Taxes and the Public Servants

January 7, 2008 8:34 PM by Jim Fedako | Other posts by Jim Fedako | Comments (3)

In his book, For Good and Evil: The Impact of Taxes on the Course of History, Charles Adams makes it quite clear that the taxpayers are the real servants, while the so-called public servants -- the political class -- are simply the masters setting the slave wage.

Of course, the primaries, debates, etc., bring this truism to life, with every candidate -- save one -- saying and doing whatever it takes to be crowned king. And, to the winner goes the spoils. We pay of course.

The biblical tenth is the mark of oppression.¹ And, very few masters can extort more than that for a long period of time. Revolt or collapse is the inevitable end. Yet, while reading For Good and Evil or watching the political process, it's obvious that the masters have no attachment to any ideal or concept of nation. They simply strive to steal the most they can over their reign. The inevitable end is a given that they are willing to accept for even a brief period of ill-gotten booty; ideals and nation be damned.

This book is a great read. But I caution you, reading it while a candidate or talking head is speaking is really, really bad for your blood pressure.

notes:

1. The tenth is a 10% tax. The US has exceeded that rate for decades, so it's time for tax revolts, such as the one brewing in Massachusetts.