GUEST POST by Senator Steven Thayn (Idaho) —
No one knows when slavery first began. It was mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi in 1,750 B.C. Slavery was common in the ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece, Assyria, and the Roman Empire. In the Roman Empire, probably over 25% of the empire's population, and 30 to 40% of the population of Italy was enslaved.¹
David P. Forsythe wrote: "The fact remained that at the beginning of the nineteenth century an estimated three-quarters of all people alive were trapped in bondage against their will either in some form of slavery or serfdom."²
The key difference between a slave and a free man is the control of the fruits of labor—the slave cedes his control to the master. A freeman controls what he produces. The United States has a constitutional amendment prohibiting involuntary servitude; nevertheless slavery is making a comeback under liberal policies where workers are forced to relinquish control of a growing share of their labor to government.
Few will argue that government is an essential institution. However, the only source of government funding is the people; at what point does government go from being a servant of the people to making the people a servant of government? At what level of taxation does this become a problem — 20% or 30% or 50%?
The United States system of government with local, state, and federal taxing authority plus the cost of regulations is now taking 63 percent of the production of the people.³ This means that workers are laboring 231 days a year for the government and only 134 days for themselves and their families. It appears we become slaves of our own government. We work less to supply the needs for ourselves and our families than we work to fund the needs of government.
Ancient slavery had a cruel face. People were forced to work against their will or fear the taskmaster's lash. Modern slavery has a compassionate face. The modern slavers want to help us; they want to help the poor, sick, young, and disabled. They justify their control over the masses because of their compassionate intentions. This, too, can be a harsh form of slavery.
Americans like to help the needy. Nevertheless, we should demand a system that helps people become productive and self-sufficient. The current system does not. Our current entitlement system is counterproductive. It gives away plenty of fish but, requires no one to learn to fish.
How did we get in this position? What can we do to get out?
America was founded upon work and use of natural resources.
I believe America wanted to help people become productive.
America trusted families.
The solution is simple. Let the workers keep the fruits of their labor, open up natural resources, help individuals become productive, and reduce spending by building family capacity.
Politics has but one, and only one, defining issue – who controls the fruits of production. The laborer and businessman who created it or government?
The secondary issue is, in order to create prosperity, do we grow the size of the private sector where wealth is produced or; do we grow the size of the government where wealth is consumed?
1. Ask.com - History of Slavery
2. David P. Forsythe (2009). "Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Volume 1". Oxford University Press. p. 399. ISBN 0195334027
3. The Americans for Tax Reform; Cost of Government Day 2010 report, estimates the total cost of government at 63 percent of all production.
No one knows when slavery first began. It was mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi in 1,750 B.C. Slavery was common in the ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece, Assyria, and the Roman Empire. In the Roman Empire, probably over 25% of the empire's population, and 30 to 40% of the population of Italy was enslaved.¹
David P. Forsythe wrote: "The fact remained that at the beginning of the nineteenth century an estimated three-quarters of all people alive were trapped in bondage against their will either in some form of slavery or serfdom."²
The key difference between a slave and a free man is the control of the fruits of labor—the slave cedes his control to the master. A freeman controls what he produces. The United States has a constitutional amendment prohibiting involuntary servitude; nevertheless slavery is making a comeback under liberal policies where workers are forced to relinquish control of a growing share of their labor to government.
Few will argue that government is an essential institution. However, the only source of government funding is the people; at what point does government go from being a servant of the people to making the people a servant of government? At what level of taxation does this become a problem — 20% or 30% or 50%?
The United States system of government with local, state, and federal taxing authority plus the cost of regulations is now taking 63 percent of the production of the people.³ This means that workers are laboring 231 days a year for the government and only 134 days for themselves and their families. It appears we become slaves of our own government. We work less to supply the needs for ourselves and our families than we work to fund the needs of government.
Ancient slavery had a cruel face. People were forced to work against their will or fear the taskmaster's lash. Modern slavery has a compassionate face. The modern slavers want to help us; they want to help the poor, sick, young, and disabled. They justify their control over the masses because of their compassionate intentions. This, too, can be a harsh form of slavery.
Americans like to help the needy. Nevertheless, we should demand a system that helps people become productive and self-sufficient. The current system does not. Our current entitlement system is counterproductive. It gives away plenty of fish but, requires no one to learn to fish.
How did we get in this position? What can we do to get out?
America was founded upon work and use of natural resources.
I believe America wanted to help people become productive.
America trusted families.
The solution is simple. Let the workers keep the fruits of their labor, open up natural resources, help individuals become productive, and reduce spending by building family capacity.
Politics has but one, and only one, defining issue – who controls the fruits of production. The laborer and businessman who created it or government?
The secondary issue is, in order to create prosperity, do we grow the size of the private sector where wealth is produced or; do we grow the size of the government where wealth is consumed?
1. Ask.com - History of Slavery
2. David P. Forsythe (2009). "Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Volume 1". Oxford University Press. p. 399. ISBN 0195334027
3. The Americans for Tax Reform; Cost of Government Day 2010 report, estimates the total cost of government at 63 percent of all production.
A former Idaho legislator (Democrat) said that sales tax is the fairest form of taxation since citizens have the most control of how much they pay. By choosing lower priced items, citizens can minimize their "contribution".
ReplyDeleteIncome tax is EVIL to the fifth power! The founders knew that. It took a barely-ratified constitutional amendment to allow the federal gov't to force a progressive tax on income!