And as we go on through the history of the world, we find the first democracy in history, ancient Athens. Like us, Athens achieved a blend of national freedom (freedom from foreign rule), political freedom (freedom to vote, freedom to hold office), and individual freedom (freedom to live as you choose as long as you harm no one else). And in fact that was the definition of the democracy to the Athenians—their freedom to live as they chose as long as they harmed no one else. However, Aristotle defined that democracy as a systematic plan to redistribute the wealth. And for Aristotle that was the difference between a good constitutional free government and a radical democracy. The good constitutional government apportions taxes equally. The radical democracy wanted it redistributed by a graduated income tax, and particularly by what we might compare to a high marginal income tax, the way we used to Boston Tea Party, 1773 have in this country. Wealthy people in this country at one point would pay 91 percent marginal taxes. In ancient Athens they would have to build a battleship, and that would be about a million dollars in today’s currency. And not only did they have to pay for its being built, they also had to serve on it to make sure they didn’t cut corners. The other heavy tax that was put only on the wealthy was called a liturgy for the dramatic performances. And there wealthy people did not mind because they got great recognition for putting on these plays by Sophocles. But nonetheless, it was a heavy economic burden placed upon the wealthy. The Romans had a typically practical attitude towards taxes. When they became the world superpower by the year 167 B.C., Roman citizens simply
PERSPECTIVE • MAY 2011
stopped paying taxes. They said, there is no way we are going to protect the world and also pay taxes. So they had no taxes well into the time of the first Caesars. And that was when one of the great hallmarks of being a Roman citizen, say in the age of Paul, was that you didn’t have to pay taxes. The majority of the inhabitants were not citizens—that’s why Paul was so proud of his status as a citizen. However, they worked two days a year to pay their taxes. And for that, they got the most cost-efficient and best army the world had ever seen, peace and prosperity that in many parts of the Middle East has still not been equaled, a superb network of roads, a free-market economy, and social mobility. Two days a year. Now let’s compare that to the 96 days you told me about. Dutcher: Let’s jump forward to the American colonists in, say, 1775. They were possibly the freest, most lightly taxed people in the world. And yet they took up arms in a tax revolt. Dr. Fears: Yes, the American Revolution, from the point of view of King George, was about taxes. As he said to Parliament, the issue is the Americans won’t pay taxes. And Edmund Burke, the famous orator and lover of freedom, stood up and said, that is indeed the issue. Touch an Englishman in a hundred places about his freedom and he will not squawk. Touch him in his pocketbook with unfair taxes, and he will revolt. And when he ceases to be so sensitive about his taxes, he will cease to be worthy of his freedom. That is what got King Charles in so much trouble with Parliament, the question of taxes and his refusal to be accountable for the taxes he raised.
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