More Tyranny Plus More Taxes Equals More ProtestsAs early as 1733, Colonial frustrations were felt against the British Parliament via the Molasses Act. Indignation grew over the decades, erupting in 1764, when Parliament enacted the Sugar Act and the Currency Act. But it was not until 1765, when Parliament levied the first direct tax upon the Colonies via the Stamp Act, that larger protests permeated all 13 Colonies. And though that tax was repealed in 1766, the appeasement was short-lived. Parliament passed the Townshend Acts beginning in 1767, placing a tax on a number of essential goods, including paper and tea — something which, in turn, led to the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, the Intolerable Acts and the First Continental Congress in 1774 and, of course, the Declaration of Independence in 1776. What's so amazing is that no matter how vast Parliament's control and taxation upon the colonists were back then, it all pales in significance to Washington's control and taxation upon Americans today. Some are rejoicing over the passing of Obamacare, but their joy certainly will turn to mourning once they've experienced the trickling down of related costs and taxes over the years. Let me summarize. Americans for Tax Reform have pulled from Obamacare legislation 20 taxes coming down the pike (with references to the location in the law and the dates the taxes begin) that will be paid by every American in one way, shape or form. Of course, with President Barack Obama's promise not to raise taxes on the lower and middle classes — combined with the report last week that 47 percent of citizens pay no federal taxes at all — half the readers of this column might feel momentarily immune to the coming increases in taxation. Unfortunately, such financial resistance will be short-lived. That is why the White House sent out three of its biggest financial guns this past week on three consecutive days to prepare the way for tax increases that will be coming soon to your neighborhood. First, White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said the feds should consider imposing a "value-added tax" similar to those charged in Europe to help get the deficit under control. He emphatically declared, "If at the end of the day, we need to raise taxes, we should raise taxes." Second, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that in order to prevent overwhelming budget deficits that will suffocate economic growth, Americans must accept higher future taxes and less in entitlement benefits: "To avoid large and ultimately unsustainable budget deficits, the nation will ultimately have to choose among higher taxes, modifications to entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, less spending on everything else from education to defense, or some combination of the above." Third, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf affirmed that the nation's fiscal situation is "unsustainable" and requires major changes. Isn't it just ironic that after raising the national debt again by trillions over the past year and passing Obamacare (more entitlements), the feds are warning us that if Americans don't pay down the national debt and lessen their future entitlement benefits, America will suffer economic collapse (again)? Is any American really naive enough to believe that Washington is not going to raise taxes? My frustration with Washington's deplorable status and solutions is what prompted me to film my latest PSA ("patriot service announcement"), which was uploaded last Thursday on YouTube under the title "Black Belt Patriotism." What we need now more than ever are smaller government and lower taxes.
And we need to continue to fight for a taxation system similar to that established by our Founders. They did not penalize productivity through taxes the way we do today. The best answer is still to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, sweep away the present tax code and implement a flat tax or fair tax that lives up to its name — a simple consumptive-based tax system in which equity rules and from which no one can dodge or evade the dues. Let us all contact our representatives April 15 and demand it and fight for our republic at one of the hundreds of rallies across the country, including in Washington. As patriots, we're not intimidated by power. We won't be demoralized by a few trying to demonize all of us. We're not going to disappear like a bad dream, because we love our country too much to let it sink without a fight. It's a patriot equation that we have learned and carry on from our forefathers: more tyranny + more taxes = more protests. So shout it loud and proud this week: "We will remember in November!" To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK NORRIS DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
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