By the way, the way you frame the argument by backtracking to the original selling point, okay, it was always more popular to soak the rich than spread the burden. That is the very point of a direct tax like the income tax, as opposed to consumption taxes which are notoriously regressive. We had quasi-revolutions over those.
It remains unclear whether you bring up the original argument for historical curiosity, or do you side with the pitchfork gang? I certainly don’t. I think it is a dirty, underhanded, oppressive trick. It characterizes the worst of democracy. They burden a monied minority nit out of any actual principle of fairness but merely so as not to lose elections for spending like drunjen sailors. I’d much prefer we have none but consumption taxes.
It remains unclear whether you bring up the original argument for historical curiosity, or do you side with the pitchfork gang?
I just thought there was so irony in the complaints surrounding the income tax. As far as siding with mobs, that's usually a bad idea regardless of the merits of the mob's underlying motives.\
As far as tax policy goes, I don't think there's any such thing as a good one, much less a perfect one. Unfortunately, "no tax policy" doesn't really work either. Prior to the institution of the income tax, the government was able to run on duties and user fees. The economy changed, so tax policy changed with it. I would also prefer to have nothing but consumption taxes. Unfortunately, not only are such taxes regressive, but they're also a drag on aggregate demand which is pretty must the worst possible thing we could do to our economy right now.
BTW, I love your screen name.