“People like kings more than Oliver Cromwell” is definitely true but may not say much now that there are more options.
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I dunno know about passports, but that old saw about income tax isn’t true. It first appeared in the US to fund the civill war, sure. But that one actually was temporary. It had already come back by 1913, prior to WWI, though it was increased to help fund the war, as one would expect. However modern progressive income taxation was a foundational tool of the New Deal and bears little resemblance to those earlier versions. In short, it’s complicated.
Furthermore, the history of income tax is completely different in other countries. Most have had it for most of their lives because progressive income taxation is well understood as a fair and just system of reducing wealth inequality and building a society that benefits everyone. The US was unusual in trying to make a go of it for so long by only taxing booze. So the analogy to passports is weak and very America-exceptional at best.
Income tax was a never “a temporary thing that they then refused to give up” as cranky old men love to frame it.
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Right, exactly. Your example of Biden traveling to SA with a bottle of wine extends way beyond that. He has a full staff of armed security who are totally exempt from all kinds of local weapons laws, for example. He probably travels with anti-aircraft weapons and stuff like that which ordinary Joes can’t traipse around with.
When heads of state visit the US they actually have a special visa, the A-1 visa, regardless of the purpose of travel. It’s an issue of sovereignty - no head of state can visit here for any purpose except by invitation. A head of state can’t get a tourist visa, for example.
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That’s your opinion, one which is rooted in your own privilege and bias.
I was mostly making a joke to call attention to that factor; sorry that it appears to have gone over your head.
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Good point about my unintentional USA myopia, sorry.
In the USA, the reason the federal government has unrestricted ability to tax income is the 16th amendment, which was proposed with intentionally unlimited wording to assure it would be shot down in flames, supposedly forever settling the debate. Unexpectedly, the amendment was ratified, because the two party system already had such a firm grip on state legislatures that it was just a matter of the super wealthy (who prefer income taxes to asset taxes) applying a few thousand simoleans here and there… Or at least that’s the story I heard from Granddad, could be apocryphal.
Anyway, as for passports - this is interesting
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There’s a lot of misconception around 16A also though. It didn’t create income tax as an idea, it just clarified some details. A direct tax on the people was already in the constitution.
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“Like” is a pretty strong word to ascribe to the phenomenon that you are describing. I would say that the rise and fall of kingdoms and republics has more to do with what people dislike, as people tend to want to change their whole system of government when they are fed up with whatever the current system is (revolution or not).
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Well - who else are you going to feed to the guillotine?
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Plenty!
I created fake ads for a toy to sell in three different markets…
I am now thinking I need to make a Russian one, too, also…
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Happy Quatorze
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Nothing lubricates as well as royal blood.
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I guess I missed the joke - I’m a knobhead, so I can accept it.
I did think “seem to” wrapped my entire idea up as an opinion - but, I work on my clarity in perpetuity and it never seems to meet expectations.
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heh heh heh heh heh
Welp, dictators’ and oligarchs’ works fairly well, even if they don’t.
Okay, so
I doubt the site I use will have the same fonts I used, but I’ll manage allright.
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Yeah. They’re nearly as greasy.
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Here 'tis!
The only problem is the lack of clarity exclamation point-wise. /shrugs I’m happy with it otherwise.
I didn’t call you any names, or cast any aspersions upon you; I just tried to draw attention to your unfounded assumption.
My only expectation is for other people (particularly White cis-het males) to not to talk down to me or act like they are the only people whose opinions have any value.
It goes without saying that particular expectation goes unmet far too often… even on a forum like BB.
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Well - who else are you going to feed to the guillotine?
Again using History as a guide, many more poor people and political dissidents than rich and/or powerful people. I know you meant that as a joke, but I find little humor in death machines. Apologies in advance.
Back in 2004 I drove to Vancouver BC for a vacation with a bunch of friends. We crossed the border fine, but on the way back they asked for passports. I didn’t know they had stopped taking drivers licenses as proof of citizenship after 9/11 for travel to Canada so, I didn’t have my passport.
We all got pulled into the checkpoint and the officer said they had a test to see if I was American or not.
Officer: “Who was the 16th president?”
Me: “I have no clue. I never remember exact dates of stuff.”
Officer: “It’s Lincoln.” In condescending tone: “We once had a kid come through here who even knew all the first ladies.”
Me: “Out of everyone, one time. You don’t say.”
Officer: “You are free to go.”
Police-work… real Mensa stuff.
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I know you meant that as - well- something. But I find obsequious servility amusing.
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Again it would be so nice if some folks could make their points without condescending to others or virtue signaling how much “better” they think they are than everyone else.
I continue to dream.
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