Quote of the Day: Especially Relevant for Joe Biden, the Squad, and House and Senate Democrats

The progressive noisemakers in the Democratic Party, namely the squad and

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders (not a Democrat, who knows what

he really is) and Ron Wyden are determined to radically revise the tax code of

the United States. They are proposing bills hundreds if not thousands of pages

long which are unread by any of the Representatives and Senators who will vote

on it. It includes features that seek to punish hard working people, innovators,

farmers, entrepreneurs and companies that employ hundreds of thousands of

people as they seek to impose a socialist system in America. Unfortunately, the

President is out to lunch and it is questionable if he really understands what is

the aim of these so called progressives. One of the leaders of this group,

Sanders, has raised the call for these taxpayers to pay their “fair share”. It

sounds good and naive people may think it sounds right. But just what is a fair

share? Who knows? What we do know is that this is a form of destructive class

warfare which must stop.

Anyway, this issue was addressed many years ago by a Federal District Judge

by the name of Learned Hand. Following are two quotes from legal decisions he

wrote. It would be wise for the Democrats to ponder them before they go off on

an insane route that will destroy our economy.

“Any one may so arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as

possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the

Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.”

Gregory v. Helvering, 69F: ad 809,810 (2d Cir. 1934)

“Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so

arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody

does so, rich or poor, and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty

to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not

voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere

cant.”

Commissioner v. Newman, 159F.2d 848,851 (2d Cir. 1947) dissenting opinion

Perhaps our revenue hunting legislators should look at the parallel underground

economy. Its size is difficult to exactly quantify but it may approach 50% of the

legitimate economy. If so, if taxed, it might produce enough revenue to balance

the budget and eliminate deficit spending.

Garry S Sklar

Las Vegas, NV

October 29, 2021