" ... as all history informs us, there has been in every State & Kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing & governed: the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes, or enslaving of the people. Generally indeed the ruling power carries its point, the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes; the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure. There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people's money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever ..."
by:
Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790) US Founding Father
Source:
before the Constitutional Convention, June 2, 1787
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VERY APPROPRIATE.........now, what do we do?
 -- anon, anon     
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    Currently the US Federal Taxes are the lowest they have been since the 1950. They are lower than most European countries. The Bush tax cuts were immoral in what they are doing to our posterity. and still the ever complaining will not shut up! Corporations are awash with cash, but the government is in debt to the tune of 13 trillion. When the income tax first came out it only affected a small number of people and it was about 2% but was called exorbitant! Franklin was a notorious cheapskate. Don't you get it no likes paying taxes, or giving out of their pocket to anything. This quote just feeds into the sickness that is already ever present. Study the Hungarian King Mathias who was highly criticized for raising heavy taxes on every one but was lionized upon his death for saving the nation militarily, culturally and in every other way. Franklin must never of heard of him. We've had tax cutters to and look what they did to us, Harding, Hoover, Bush.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Gee Whiz, now the truth is out, Waffler is smarter than Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was a giant among men, I doubt that Waffler is.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    With the onslaught of so many policing agencies that are known and those that are unknown, coupled with a tax regime that has walking authority to do to a citizen whatever it wants, added to the fact that an American can now be yanked off the streets with no charges, no legal counsel and no right to face his accuser...I'd say we're there. The American State has officially given up on the idea that citizens are anything more than inventory to be milked like cattle and disposed of in whatever way the state decides...and it's all "legal".
     -- J Carlton, Carlton     
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    Do the math Waffler. Less government spending requires less taxation. So simple our government can't figure it out.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    The statist theocracy that now infests this land has replaced 'We The People's' representative republic. As evidence of the depot(s) take over, private allodium has been eliminated, the standing army (police) located throughout the populous enforces victimless crimes and confiscates what it will - when it wants, and the foreign theocracy claims inherent right, being the ultimate stand alone organic hegemony with all rights (including ownership and to theft of others) powers, privileges, authority with ability to create law and justice. Said criminal theocracy proves Franklin's quote above
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Pharaoh and the "Obama Regime" appear to be on the same page. Tell the people lies, tax them to death, take their homes & properties, then enslave them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Government isn't a good way to solve problems....(G)overnment is concerned mostly with self perpetuation and is subject to fantastic ideas about its own capabilities....(G)overnment is wasteful of the nations resources, immune to common sense and subject to pressure from every half organized bouquet of assholes....(G)overnment is distrustful of and disrespectful toward average Americans while being easily gulled by Americans with money, influence and power." (P.J. O'Rourke)
     -- L.P., Kirkland, WA     
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    People like Waffler are the greatest threat to liberty and prosperity in America. A literal thief. Waffler, you are aware that if you feel that the government doesn't have enough money, you can donate more of your own money. I have never understood why those who would like the government to do more, dont just get off their asses and contribute themselves. All the answers I have ever heard, show that they are incompetent at best.
     -- John Pettitt, Va     
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    Waffler, what credentials have you obtained that make you capable of insulting a man that the Founders believed to be the wisest among them? Do you have a greater understanding of the course of human events than Franklin? Can the volumes in which you have read or written on this matter fill a library, as is the case with Franklin? To consider yourself wiser or more intelligent than he is to claim yourself among the wisest and most intelligent of all mankind. If this be the case, then surely you can understand the injustice in stripping the fruit of those who have labored for it to provide for those who have not. Surely you can see how the people will and must distrust an arbitrary power whose ambition is to remove their labor and their wealth in the pretense of taking care of them. You must be able to see how governments throughout history have attempted to aggrandize themselves by appealing to the masses of the average and the poor with promises to redistribute the achievements of the rich. A person of your wisdom and intelligence must know that these promises are empty, for never in the history of our world has this feat been accomplished. Never has a people been willing to trade their dreams of self-made fortunes for the luke-warm equality of socialism. An unequal distribution of property is present in every State of liberty and justice. For it is liberty that allows every individual to work for a greater portion of property and it is justice that allows them to keep what they worked for. Your government and your people owe you no degree of wealth or charity. The only thing owed to you is the respect that God commands for every individual of His creation. Everything else you have to work for and earn on your own, by the sweat of your own brow and the strength of your own back.
     -- Publius, USA     
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    There is scarce one king in an hundred. Thanks be to God there were more than one of our founding fathers willing to set their children at liberty with freedom according to the laws of God. Be it though we the children, common man, have had these liberties and freedoms suppressed and manipulated to the point of breaking the back of the common man and woman. All due to the greed that runs rampant in our country and the world. Isaiah 56:11 KJB
     -- WMITN13, USA     
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    Waffler, if the 2nd plank of the communist manifesto were only one ounce of .9999 pure silver per year, it would still constitute an enslaving theft. Your misdirection, off topic, red herring — when applied to We The People's "republican form of government" (Article IV Section 4, U.S. Constitution), it emphasizes the accuracy of Franklin's here quote. From the de jure States united's inception, such heinous larceny was recognized as a violation of each and every individual sovereign (We The People). 
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Hear, hear!!  Excellent response.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Wow.  Right on, as clear as day.  Know the enemy.  The Founders formed a more perfect union to protect against the insidious wiles of those that wish to rule the people.  The denial or ignorance of this reality is the tool of tyrants.  Socialism is just another form of rule that worships the command of people — while professing liberty, they forge new chains for the masses. For the socialists,  Freedom is a four-letter word
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Benjamin Franklin — A truly wise historical statesman.

     -- Mary, MI     
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    History is the history of consumer versus producer. The consumer typical has a product to sell but at great cost.  In the end the typical consumer causes greater destruction in delivering their product then any benefit for the social structure. The producer, however, is able to carry the whole of society to a new level by the vision that rest in his heart. Socialism is the vision of social abilities to create.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sorry Mr Editor LibertyTree,
    The one comment, one quote rule must be altered here I have no other recourse. I have just gathered information on a scheduled execution of an individual named Clarence Dixon for May, 2022 in Arizona. As a responsible American citizen I must demand that state's executors immediately halt this action and permanently commute this individual's status.We humans have learned a life for a life makes the whole world dead.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, maybe I can help you get over your Marxist wolf pack propaganda and fallacious dogma. The “Consumer” / “Producer” relationship is but a small segment of history. As a socialist, it is the norm / clear that you make up definitions to words to fit your theocratic dogma - BUT ! ! ! - a “consumer” is a buyer or vendee that acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than, for resale or use in production and manufacturing. The consumer (individual - sentient, legal, some times enjoyably agreeable / some times antagonistic, etc.) typically purchases products at an accepted price (sometimes inexpensive, some times reasonable, some times at great cost {like, by socialism’s induced inflation}, some times by necessity, sometimes by desire, etc.). Sillik, by definition (in all languages, - civil / legal, etc.) the “consumer” does NOT sell products (being productive or destructive to a social setting is not part of any definition or fit whatsoever within a realm of association concerning your word salad).

    A “producer’s” creative vision may or may not fall within a “consumer’s” desire or need. I once produced a product for consumer’s use that was the highest quality, most versatile, etc. in a specific industry. Some consumers would pay the extra cost for the best because it fit within their circumstances, desires or needs. Your word salad’s erroneous attempt to redefine and corral an entire relationship was a lie from inception.


     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Sillik, because it seems you hold life sacred, would you happen to be an active patron of the god Moloch?
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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