Criminalizing the Honorable

(The one business in which government can profit)

Over the past hundred years, the vast quantity of laws and taxes passed is enough to make anyone wonder what in heck has happened here. Where once existed a nation of free, independent relatively un-taxed citizens now lives a people constantly looking over our shoulders wondering what law we may have broken without realizing it, and what punishment might be the result. Our thought processing has been infected by government and its ravenous desire to gorge itself at our expense for nearly half our national life. Unfortunately, it is for the entire lives of most of us now living, but some of us do study history, and so we know it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a better way.

Who among us hasn’t committed a “crime” under any of the strict definitions of our ridiculous legal system? Have you ever driven over the speed limit? You are committing a criminal act if you have. Just because you didn’t get caught or receive a traffic ticket doesn’t mean you didn’t commit an arrestable offense. One who commits a crime, is caught and found guilty is defined as a “criminal”. One who commits a crime and is not caught has still committed a criminal act, and is in danger of being caught. One way or another, we’re all criminals in the eyes of government. It is only a matter of time until we’re caught because criminalizing the honorable is their primary profit making enterprise.

Have you ever crossed a street anywhere other than the designated crosswalk? Have you ever taken a deduction on your tax return you couldn’t prove? Has your 7-year old child operated an unlicensed lemonade stand? (no kidding) Have you sold anything at a yard sale and not reported the income? Have you ever not washed your hands in a restaurant kitchen when you were required to do so? Have you ever built any addition (in some cases just a new door) on your house without a permit? Have you called anyone a name that might have hurt their feelings? Have you ever driven without wearing your seatbelt? Have you kayaked your bay without a life jacket and whistle?

If you did any of this, you have committed a criminal act punishable by fine, incarceration, or both. We are a nation of criminals. We don’t need thousands of examples; we all know it is very difficult to get through an entire day in our modern, progressive United States without breaking some law punishable by whatever penalty a czar may choose to impose.

A hundred years ago, none of the above activities were illegal. Today the transgressions above could cost us hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

 

Taxes and Fees

A list of some of the taxes and fees most of us now deal with every day – this is not a complete list, so please add your own. If you don’t pay these when due, you are in violation of the law…

Accounts Receivable Tax
Accumulated Earnings Tax

Ad Velorem Tax

Alternative Minimum Tax

Building Permit Tax
Business License Tax
Capital Gains Tax

Cigarette Tax
Coal Gross Proceeds Tax

Corporate Income Tax
Court fines (Indirect tax) for almost anything

Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) 
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (over 40 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
Interest Income earned Tax
IRS Interest Charges, IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) 
Liquor Tax
Local Income taxes

Luxury Tax
OSHA fines and penalties

Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax

Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax 
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax 
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Tolls on bridges, tunnels and roads

Traffic and parking fines

Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales and License Tax 
Watercraft Registration Tax 
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

A hundred years ago, none of these taxes existed either. No law was broken when we kept money paid to us and reported it to no one.

What happened? This is what they call progress. This is also why we need to seriously consider Regressivism as a new national policy.

 

History can not be re-written

The past is history. There is no re-writing for us. The government is now enormous and there are extraordinarily wealthy people ruling us, and have been for many decades. It doesn’t really matter how this happened, only that it did. We can’t change it, but maybe we can learn from it and make certain we track back on course. We have to go back if there is to be a future.

We have seen the manipulation of the economy become increasingly more intrusive decade by decade over the last century. Those responsible for the 16th Amendment (income tax law) and the passage of the Federal Reserve Act are co-conspirators in the initial phase of our destruction. Many have enthusiastically taken up the cause since.

American thought process is not what it once was. We used to assume we had to be rugged individualists who neither wanted nor needed help from anyone. Now, we are a nation of well-meaning, but misguided liberal whiners who believe it is our right to demand assistance at the slightest need. We require a lot of money for this. The result is that our nation now enslaves one group of people for the benefit of others. They scoff when we suggest this is tyranny.

The geometric expansion of government has gradually influenced many to believe that there is this gigantic treasure chest of never-ending wealth in Washington. It is just sitting there, waiting for spending ideas. With all of that money floating around, there must be something good that can be done with it for me. After all, it is all of our money; why can’t I have more?

At first we didn’t want it; we had no desire to put our hand into the governmental till. As the years passed we began to see some of the more selfish among us take advantage; then the indolent began to join in. Unfortunately, too many of us liked it, accepted it, and voted for it.

Our thought processing has been gradually manipulated over the last 100 years by the constant pounding of socialist ideas in the name of goodness and charity. Just as the more money an individual has, the more power he has; the more money government can absorb from a nation, the greater its power and influence becomes relative to that of the people. The bigger the government the greater favors they are able to grant.

Can we correct the flawed thinking of the progressives who make up perhaps more than half of our voting block? They were able to change a lot of formerly conservative minds over the last century by appealing to selfishness and greed. With the right approach, can we change them back? If there is something in it for them, maybe we can.

Next: The Laffer Curve vs. The Friedman Box

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