Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-08-27
RAISE INCOME TAX RATES


Some changes in government have
to be talked about so long it seems,
that people get tired listening to all
the talk. Business has to be adjusted
to the changes gradually. and other
reasons are given for not making dras-
tic changes, all of which reasons may
be quite logical. But there can be and
should be one change made by con-
gress that does not need to wait for
any business adjustment and educa-
that is raising the rates on federal
income taxes in the higher brackets.
Also create good stiff rates on in
heritance taxes There is no use of
creating an upper caste, powerfully
wealthy class in this free country of
ours. 1t is un-American and far from
being democratic.
Any one having a net income of one
million dollars in a year-and there
were 504 such individuals in the
United States in 1929-can we'll af-
ford to give half of that income to the
government in taxes. Remember that
collecting half of his net income in
taxes is not taking any money out of
his business, he still has the same
amount of property and can go ahead
and make another million next year.
and if he does not he will not be taxed
to that amount.
The only place where 500 tax on
a million dollar annual income will
be felt is in the family budget No
family needs such a stupendOus sum.
Half of it will be plenty. Raising the
federal income taxes back to where
the individual having a net annual
income of one million dollars or more
will pay fifty per cent or more to the
government should be done just as
soon as congress meets again. 1t will
cause no hardship to anyone and will
help many. The money can be ap-
portioned by the federal government
to the various state governments-or
federal eXpenses-and thus help to
reduce local taxes. If more money is
derived from the federal government
for schools, roads and public build
ings it is only natural that less money
need be collected locally in general
property taxes.
Some folks will say that the man
who makes million or more annual
ly needs that to put back into his
business-to increase it, to develop
it further and to give employment to
more people. Is it done? Look at
the way some of those folks live and
the mansions they live in. Could
some of that wealth not be distri-
buted little more evenly to good
advantage? Which of course would
also result in less suffering And
even if the man who makes a net
million year does put most of it
back in his factory, mine or other
business, is there any good reason for
the ownership or control of that bust
ness remaining in the hands of the
one man or the few men? There may
as well be many stockholders? And
haven't some of the real wealthy got
ten so hoggish that if they do not
millionaire each year they close their
business, or shut it down to some ex-
tent? Let the worker scramble for
himself. Of course the powers give
to charity-that looks good, but that
is not what the common people want,
they want the opportunity to make an
honest living and not take the crumbs
that fall from the wealthy. The true
American with red blood in his veins,
able-bodied and willing to work is
not asking for charity, does not want
it, and most of all detests tainted
money, which some of that charity
money is.
Very conservative folks or reaction
aries will say this is preaching So
cialism, Bolshevism, or some other
kind of red stuff. Be that as it may, it
is our own candid opinion-not bought
or controlled, and if we are way off
the track we will be glad to be crit
icised or shown something better than
here advocated, for something has to
be done to right conditions. 1t is not
our purpose to retard personal initi-
ative-far from such-we believe in
the individual improving himself and
doing his very best, and also in good
remuneration to those who show the
stuff and can do something. They
are entitled to just reward. We have
little sympathy for the person who