Fair and righteous taxes

Re "Since 1980s, U.S. tax system has flattened," Op-Ed, March
31: Molly Ivins recounts some interesting congressional debate
prior to the passage of the 16th Amendment, trying to show that a
progressive income tax is "so fair and so righteous." She even
points out that at the time of passage, 99 percent of the population
was exempt. Using her same facts, I draw the opposite
conclusion.

This supposed "fairness" was nothing more than one group voting
to support the government with somebody else's money, thereby
relieving themselves of the obligation. It was, and still is, nothing
short of legalized theft.

The other point she makes is that the "tax was riddled with
exemptions from the beginning," and then drops the subject as if
there is no way around it. Again, I draw the opposite conclusion.
The only way to remove the unfair exemptions is to remove all
exemptions. Targeting taxes on any segment of the population is
neither "fair" nor "righteous."

The only "fair" and "righteous" income tax is a flat tax with no
exemptions and no deductions.

Gerald Klaas
Carmichael