Top 10 Anti-Tax Quotations – Annotated

Top 10 Anti-Tax Quotations – Annotated

On April 15th, it is always a worthy enterprise to reflect on one of the major motivations of the American Patriots that caused them to break away from England. Of course, I am referring to "Taxation Without Representation." Today, we know from the Tea Parties multiplying around the Country that Gerald Berzan is quite to say right that "Taxation with representation ain't so hot either." Perhaps that is why Douglas Adams declared that he was "spending a year dead for tax reasons."

In that lively spirit, I give you my Top 10 Anti-Taxation Quotes with my annotations:

No. 10.

"In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin. It is hard to start anywhere else. The little known full quote is "Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." The Founders, who framed a Constitution to protect us from government, did not dare consider an income tax. Franklin obviously did not trust future politicians.

No. 9.

"I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible." Milton Friedman. The 1st of two Friedman quotes in this countdown brings up the question: Why the Republican Party is (or should be) so anti-tax? Franklin obviously warned us. Friedman accepted his warning and knew that unless we fought them at every turn, taxes would be more than inevitable.

No. 8.

"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands." Legendary Judge Learned Hand. I guess it turns out Joe Biden was wrong?

No. 7.

"The power to tax is the power to destroy." The first of John Marshall's 2 quotes in the countdown: Simply stated, but sadly not well understood: that maxim also applies to income as well – which is why higher rates result in less tax revenue. Later Alan Greenspan would say that "Whatever you tax, you get less of." It REALLY is that simple – if only our politicans would learn that lesson.

No. 6.

"We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork." Milton Friedman. In just 11 words, Friedman philosophically explains (a) socialism's internal flaw and (b) how the tax system is used to undermine a nation's vitality. Churchill was equally smart when he noted that "We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

No. 5.

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." William Boetcker.  Wrongly attributed to Lincoln, Boetcker explains with clarity 10 reasons why welfare state proponents, including Obama, have it all wrong.

No. 4

"A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it." Alexis de Tocqueville. One of history's most brilliant men, de Tocqueville makes clear, in the early 1800s, the very dynamic that is so badly harming American today: Only 53% of Americans pay income tax. The others are simply voting themselves temporarily "rich" at the cost of our economic health, their own long term welfare and our Liberty. Under Obama, that dynamic will worsen.

No. 3.

"Excessive taxation … will carry reason and reflection to every man's door, and particularly in the hour of election." Thomas Jefferson. The last 8 Presidential winners was the perceived tax cutter. Is Jefferson's message not simple enough? Why any Republican ever forgets Jefferson's maxim is so very hard for me to understand.

No. 2.

"The collection of taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny." Calvin Coolidge, our last "Libertarian Republican" President, evokes our memories of a time when government was actually limited and people actually believed that people had a right to their money. Coolidge summarized what every Republican should repeat when asked about our tax system: "The wise and correct course to follow in taxation is not to destroy those who have already secured success, but to create conditions under which everyone will have a better chance to be successful."

Del Beccaro's No.1 Anti-Tax Quote!

"Indeed, in a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen." John Marshall, Founder and seminal US Supreme Court Chief Justice. Without question this is the fine point of the matter. The income tax – instituted by Democrat Woodrow Wilson – is an involuntary tax that requires citizens to disgorge their hard earned property. Since, as Will Durant said, "communism begins where private property ends," Marshall is right to point that there are precious few rights remaining if government can take away your private property. We must come to understand that lower taxes literally are the equivalent to greater freedom. We can begin to restore our freedom by scrapping the involuntary income tax in favor of a voluntary sales tax.

Thanks for reading and remember that dissent is no substitute for action. Get involved and help us take back the America this Fall.