Why was there a time when we had no income taxes? (interstate, health care)

[TheHurricaneKid]

Why was there a time when the government didn't need to spend so much to keep the nation going? Why did the government need so much expansion, when the nation ran pretty well on alcohol and other taxes?

[Frank DeForrest]

That was before wars,welfare and progressivism.

[HappyTexan]

That was also before the Federal Reserve was created.

The 100th anniversary is this year. 100 years of financial control over the US.

[hoooka]

Lets be fair, it was before we had an Interstate highway system, Military that spanned the world with foot prints in hundreds of lands, NASA, SS to keep the old from eathing dog food, Medicare for the elderly who can not afford health care. The first Income tax was to pay for the Civil war.

[Frank DeForrest]

Originally Posted by hoooka

Lets be fair, it was before we had an Interstate highway system, Military that spanned the world with foot prints in hundreds of lands, NASA, SS to keep the old from eathing dog food, Medicare for the elderly who can not afford health care. The first Income tax was to pay for the Civil war.

It was before people like yourself decided the government could or should be involved in all those things.

[hoooka]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

It was before people like yourself decided the government could or should be involved in all those things.

First off the Government taxed spirits and sugar and the like to support it self in the early years of the Republic. It taxed income to pay for the Civil war. As far as the Government being involved in things, would you support cutting the US military in half or more?

[Dorthy]

Originally Posted by hoooka

As far as the Government being involved in things, would you support cutting the US military in half or more?

That would be a huge step in the right direction.

[Nerys52SoSilver]

see Tax History Project: The Income Tax Arrives

[OhioRules]

Originally Posted by hoooka

First off the Government taxed spirits and sugar and the like to support it self in the early years of the Republic. It taxed income to pay for the Civil war. As far as the Government being involved in things, would you support cutting the US military in half or more?

Would you support cutting the Depts of Education, Interior, Transportation, Energy, HHS, State and so on in half???

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

It was before people like yourself decided the government could or should be involved in all those things.

The Constitution mandates some of those things. Income tax appeared way before SS or medicare