Tax Tales

Traditionally, US personal income tax returns are due April 15th. American's spend billions of dollars on tax preparers in the hopeful, but mostly ineffective, effort to transfer the burden of record keeping and effort onto someone else. To add a bit of levity to those rushing to complete their own returns (you either laugh or cry why preparing your tax return) I have researched what learned men and women have had to say on government and taxes.

"Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." Pericles 430 B.C.

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other." Voltaire 1764

"No man's life or property is safe while the legislature is in session." Mark Twain 1866

"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin." Mark Twain

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

"Government's view of the economy can be summed up in a few short phrases: if it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. And if it stops moving subsidize it." Ronald Reagan

" A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul." G.B. Shaw

I 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." Winston Churchill

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to a teenage boys." P. J. O'Rourke

"Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries." Douglas Casey

and finally

"What this country needs are more unemployed politicians." Edward Langley

Since April 15 is a Sunday this year, and Patriot's Day is Monday, returns are due not later than the 17th, so you better get cracking.

Toad

PS: an early edition of yesterday's post made mention of our skipping off to Charleston yesterday. Due to severe weather we had to postpone. I'm heartbroken.