19th Century Slaves Were Freer than 21st Century Taxpayers

From the History News Network's "How stupid can people be?" section.

This from a former Wall Street Journal Editorial Page Director.

Paul Craig Roberts, former Associate Editor of the WSJ editorial page, writing in his column (Jan. 27, 2004):

Compare an American taxpayer's situation today with that of a 19th century American slave. Not all slaves worked on cotton plantations. Some with marketable skills were leased to businesses or released to labor markets, where they worked for money wages. Just like the wages of today's taxpayer, a portion of the slave's money wages was withheld. In those days the private owner, not the government, received the withheld portion of the slave's wages.

Slaves in that situation were as free as today's American taxpayer to choose their housing from the available stock, purchase their food and clothing, and entertain themselves.

In fact, they were freer than today's American taxpayer. By hard work and thrift, they could save enough to purchase their freedom .

No American today can purchase his freedom from the IRS .

Slaves could also run away. Today, Americans who run away are pursued to the far ends of the earth. Indeed, the IRS can assert its ownership rights for years after an American gives up his citizenship and becomes a citizen of a different country. The IRS need only claim that the former American gave up his citizenship for tax reasons .


http://hnn.us/articles/1311.html

And there's a link to the original article in there.

... for others. These scumsuckers are beyond detestible. :puke:

slavery in order to make your own greedy, irresponsible point

They're usually just about that crazy.

As in, chain him up to the side of the barn, and lash the shit out of him asking him, "Are you free NOW?"

What's the smiley for seethe? Okay, this will have to do:

:mad:

I'm speechless.