Things Have Changed Just a Bit Since 1943

Back in 1943, Walt Disney released this short for the war effort. Back in 1943, it was the income tax to sink the Axis. Just five years later, Rex Stout wrote,

A man condemning the income tax because of the annoyance it gives him or the expense it puts him to is merely a dog baring its teeth, and he forfeits the privileges of civilized discourse. But it is permissible to criticize it on other and impersonal grounds. A government, like an individual, spends money for any or all of three reasons: because it needs to, because it wants to, or simply because it has it to spend. The last is much the shabbiest. It is arguable, if not manifest, that a substantial proportion of this great spring flood of billions pouring into the Treasury will in effect get spent for that last shabby reason.

It’s arguable that a very substantial portion of the funds heading to the Treasury are now spent for that last shabby reason.

In any case, let’s head back to 1943 for a few minutes:

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