How about a War Tax ?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

How about a war tax to repay some of the deficit caused by the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars? How could the Repukes be against this? The idea goes back to our early history? They love, love, love war. Plus, it was their president who waged it unfunded (not to mention it was unfounded as well).

Old data, I know, but just to make the numbers easy...there were about 100 million who paid federal income taxes in 2008. If every one of these people and corporations paid a one time "war tax" of $30, that could raise $3 trillion, if my math is right.

The most recent major report on these costs come from Brown University in the form of the Costs of War project,[1] which said the total for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is at least $3.2-4 trillion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_cost_of_the_Iraq_War
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Stats-2


REVENUE FOR WAR

Alexander Hamilton was not the first man in history with the dilemma of how to raise money to pay for war. The need for a government to be able to pay for troops and supplies in wartime had been a major reason for ancient Egyptians, Romans, medieval kings, and governments around the world to increase taxes or to create new ones.

The U.S. government faced a similar dilemma during the War of 1812. Based on the British model, the U.S. government considered raising money for the war through an income tax. However, the war ended before the income tax was officially enacted.

The idea of creating an income tax resurfaced during the American Civil War. Again considered a temporary tax to raise money for a war, Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1861 which instituted an income tax.

JUSTIFICATION FOR GRADUATED TAX, IN HISTORY

...the Tax Act of 1862 specified that the income tax would require those that earned up to $10,000 to pay the government three percent of their income while those that made over $10,000 would pay five percent.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/incometax.htm

[Bigmack]

1. Kicking... but pointing out that this is rational and sensible. Therefore, impossible. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. The more I think about it, the more I like it. What would help the dems get on board

might be a factor to add to include help for returning Vets