From The Patriot Post:
“If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds. This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them.”
— Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 21, 1787)
I was just thinking about this Jon.
I was riding home on my old BMW motorcycle (MANUFACTURED in Germany, a liberal democracy with a strong central government, taxing individuals and businesses to provide great social services (including health care for all)) when I got a call from my wife on my Nokia cell phone (MANUFACTURED in Finland, a liberal democracy with a strong central government, taxing individuals and businesses to provide great social services (including a college education for any kid that qualifies)) about stopping by the Ikea store (selling affordable furniture MANUFACTURED in Sweden, a liberal democracy with one of the worl’d highest standards of living), and then I was passed by a Volvo truck (MANUFACTURED in Sweden, a liberal etc. etc.).
I stopped at the Shell station (Headquartered in the Netherlands, a liberal democracy etc. etc.) and got some gas and a Toblerone chocolate bar (MANUFACTURED in Switzerland, a liberal democracy with one of the highest per-capita incomes on earth).
And while I was doing this, I was wondering why the USA can’t seem to Manufacture anything anymore? We’ve had 7 years of business friendly conservative Republican leadership. Our economy should be booming and our factories humming. Our laissez-faire economic policies and our lack of “material oppression by taxes” should be encouraging wise entrepreneurs of all stripes to start businesses that will lead to economic success for all. A rising tide lifts all boats and good stuff “Trickles down” – so what gives? How come after years of wise conservative leadership we are sliding toward a depression and the dollar is about to be passed by the peso?
At least we don’t have an economy strangled by socialist policies, like those poor boneheads that made my bike/cell phone/nightstand/ etc. etc. etc.