"The Declaration of Independence, the words that launched our nation -- 1,300 words.
The Bible, the word of God -- 773,000 words.
The Tax Code, the words of politicians -- 7,000,000 words -- and growing!"
by:
Steve Forbes
[Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Jr.] (1947- ) Publisher of Forbes Magazine, US Presidential candidate in 1996 & 2000
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
 -- christena      
We all know that it's best to use as few words as possible to get your point across. Us "ordinary people" can only comprehend soo much @ 1x. The US Tax Code and the "ramblings" of politicians are obviously meant to confuse and confound the ordinary citizen.
 -- KS, Queensbury,NY.     
  • 1
  •  
    The incomprehensible incoherency of both bureaucrats and political poltroons warrants either their incarceration in a mental institution or being exiled to a desert island (perhaps Iraq would do as a substitute).
     -- Jodopo, Michigan     
  • 1
  •  
    When communist China wanted to implement the second plank of the Communist Manifesto who do you think they went to? yep, the best at it, the US
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 2
  •  
    More like "the words that launched our demise". Just look at the Newsweek Poll for evidence: "...With Nearly half (48 percent) of the public rejects the scientific theory of evolution; one-third (34 percent) of college graduates say they accept the Biblical account of creation as fact..." Do away with the tax code and just have a flat 10 percent tax across the board on gross profits, a high tax on luxury goods, no tax on food or property. We are governed by laws which were design not by the people but by politicians not representing the people. When politicians know you won't read the tax code they do what they like - nothing is ever deleted only added to change what is already there. So if the tax code doesn't run us into the ground the fundamentalists will – so buckle up we are in for a rough ride ahead.
     -- Robert, Sarasota     
  •  
    Right on Robert! Word counts prove nothing. The US Constitution is clearly ambiguous on many of its points, and almost immediately needed an update (Bill of Rights), which have turned out to be just as ambiguous. The bible are the writings of men where we learn that inconsistency is the word of man ("God is vengeful" and "God is forgiving"). The tax code is so complex as to be itself incoherent. So its a "lose/lose/lose" statement.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
  •  
    It doesn't really matter -- most Americans haven't read the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights -- forget about the Constitution. Ignorance seems to be a common trait of people around the world, thus they are subject to the rule of men instead of the rule of law.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  •  
    What law makes you liable to pay income tax? If a cop pulls you over for speeding, he can tell you the law is X.Y.Z.a of the state of xxx. But the IRS will never tell you the law that says you must pay. They may try to point somewhere in the tax code which is so confusing that even the IRS doesn't know what it says.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
  • 1
  •  
    There are laws establishing the income tax. If you don't believe it, try not filing.
     -- Walter, King of Prussia, PA     
  •  
     -- dad4justice, NEW ZEALAND      
    Apparently Walter has never heard of a de facto law. It's a law that is enforced even though it doesn't exist. Ever tried asking an I.R.S. agent what law specifically states that it is mandatory for you to pay? Ever looked it up? The I.R.S. can play the game for as long as the courts back them up, which they have from the beginning. I know of at least 5 different cases where men have won in court from ever having to file or pay income tax again; however, the courts immediately put a gag order on the proceedings-- which means absolutely no one can find out what precedent was set in the matter, what arguments were used, and what the truth is about the argument. Do you actually think the media will risk covering such a story-- keep dreaming. As it has been said, the most dangerous thing in the world is to be right when the government is wrong.
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
  • 2
  •  
    A GREAT quote.
     -- Jerry Kosch, David City, Ne     
  •  
     -- James, Crossville, TN      
    You're right Logan. It's like the truancy law here. No law says in Texas that a child must go to school. It simply says daddy will hand the judge $100 a day if he doesn't.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
  • 1
  •  
    While I doubt that the Bible is "The Word of God" , neither is the tax code. While no one understands the code, I doubt that anyone has ever read the whole mess through. Go to ten different tax preparers and you will get ten different answers.
     -- jim k, Austin     
  • 1
  •  
    Well said Logan, Memphis, TN. I will keep it as simple as I can. Besides the fact of 1300 words in the Declaration of Independence, Rebel against tyranny. Romans 13 in a KJB states " Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13:07 states Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. With that being said, unjust tribute is unjust ! As James Russell Lowell makes mention in his poem " The Present Crisis " We see dimly in the Present what is small and what is great, Slow of faith how weak an arm may turn the iron helm of fate, But the soul is still oracle; amid the markets din, List the omnious stern whisper from the Dephic cave within- They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin. Slavery the earth-born Cyclops. Now on to matters concerning the " AFFIDAVIT OF REVOCATION AND RESCISSION " paragraph 4. That I am a natural born free sovereign United States citizen, and a citizen of the State of XXX , a freeman and I am endowed by my Creator with numerous inalienable rights including my rights to " Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, " which rights a specifically indentified in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the United States Constitution; that my birthright to " pursuit of happiness " has been interpreted by both the framers of the Constitution and the U. S. Supreme Court as including my inalienable right to contract, to acquire, to deal in, to sell, rent, and exchange properties of various kinds, real and personal, without requesting or exercising any privilege or franchise from government ; that I have learned that these inalienable property rights also include my right to contract for the exchange of my labor-property for other properties such as wages, salaries, and other earnings, that I have never knowingly or intentionally waived any of these inalienable rights. Paragraph 5. That I understand that if the exercise of rights were subjected to taxation, the right could be destroyed by increasing the tax rates to unaffordable levels; therefore courts have repeatedly ruled that government has no power to tax the exercise of any rights of citizens, as shown by the U. S. Supreme Court in the case of Murdock v. Penna., 319 U. S. 105 ( 1943 ) which stated : A state may not impose a charge for the enjoyment of a right granted by the Federal Constitution. " Ladies and Gentlemen the case is clearly made. To go into the full affidavit is laborious concerning all the tax codes mentioned and previous cases to support the cause. It is well know by a few bound to the Bar. I am not ! The Bible is the Rock upon which the Republic Rest, and is stated so for a very good reason. Our Founding Fathers were not fools nor are the well informed True Patriots of Liberty. Never doubt the surety, the wisdom or knowledge of our Founding Fathers, concerning the Whole Truth of our type of Liberty ordained of God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
  • 1
  •  
     -- Warrdoc, Elk Grove,      
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    More Quotations
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca