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Questions and Answers
How much time will a person spend on tax paperwork if they keep tax records and fill out forms for two weeks each year over a sixty-year adult life?
How much time will a person spend on tax paperwork if they keep tax records and fill out forms for two weeks each year over a sixty-year adult life?
- One year
- Four years
- Three years
- Two years (correct)
What was the typical family structure in the United States during the 1950s?
What was the typical family structure in the United States during the 1950s?
- Same-sex couple with children
- Single parent with children
- Husband, wife, and children (correct)
- Couple without children
By the year 2000, how did the income distribution of American families typically change?
By the year 2000, how did the income distribution of American families typically change?
- Both parents worked to support the family.
- One parent's income was used entirely for taxes. (correct)
- Only one parent worked outside the home.
- There was no significant change in family income distribution.
What was the savings rate of the typical American family in 1970?
What was the savings rate of the typical American family in 1970?
What does the author suggest is the realistic way to earn a higher income in today's economy?
What does the author suggest is the realistic way to earn a higher income in today's economy?
What change occurred in the savings rate from the 1970s to the year 2000?
What change occurred in the savings rate from the 1970s to the year 2000?
What concern does Uncle Eric imply about parenting in the context of both parents working outside the home?
What concern does Uncle Eric imply about parenting in the context of both parents working outside the home?
What was a significant factor contributing to the shift in the size of the U.S. government in the 20th century?
What was a significant factor contributing to the shift in the size of the U.S. government in the 20th century?
By what percentage of income were average American families estimated to pay in federal taxes by 1995?
By what percentage of income were average American families estimated to pay in federal taxes by 1995?
What does the term 'time tax' refer to in the context provided?
What does the term 'time tax' refer to in the context provided?
What was the thickness of the federal tax code and regulations in 1952?
What was the thickness of the federal tax code and regulations in 1952?
How did the percentage of income paid in taxes change from 1950 to 1995?
How did the percentage of income paid in taxes change from 1950 to 1995?
What major historical events were mentioned as contributing to the rapid growth of the U.S. government?
What major historical events were mentioned as contributing to the rapid growth of the U.S. government?
What does the increase in government consumption of family income imply?
What does the increase in government consumption of family income imply?
What was a notable statistic about the IRS paperwork mentioned?
What was a notable statistic about the IRS paperwork mentioned?
Flashcards
Two-Parent Work Model
Two-Parent Work Model
The situation where one parent works to support the family and the other works to pay taxes, leaving little time for child-rearing.
Savings Rate
Savings Rate
The amount of money a person or family saves compared to their income.
Upper Middle Class
Upper Middle Class
The financial class that enjoys a comfortable standard of living without excessive wealth.
Traditional Family Model
Traditional Family Model
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Increasing Tax Burden
Increasing Tax Burden
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Decline in Savings Rate
Decline in Savings Rate
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Entrepreneurship as a Path to Wealth
Entrepreneurship as a Path to Wealth
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Government Growth and Taxes
Government Growth and Taxes
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Government Expansion
Government Expansion
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Growing Tax Burden
Growing Tax Burden
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Time Tax
Time Tax
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Tax Code Complexity
Tax Code Complexity
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Government's Impact on Families
Government's Impact on Families
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Government as Another Mouth to Feed
Government as Another Mouth to Feed
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Cost of Government
Cost of Government
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Study Notes
The Decline of the Prosperous Employee Model
- Government growth, particularly after World War I and the Great Depression, led to a significant increase in taxes.
- By the 1980s, taxes consumed a large portion of average family income, often exceeding 40%.
- Federal taxes rose from 2% of income in 1950 to 24% in 1995.
- State and local taxes also increased considerably.
- The time burden of taxes: Tax forms and record-keeping grew dramatically since 1952
- The 1952 federal tax code and regulations were 1.25" thick.
- By 2000, the code and regulations totalled 14" in thickness.
- IRS receives enough paperwork to circle the earth 36 times annually.
Impact on Families
- The increase in taxes resulted in a decreased ability for families to save money.
- The savings rate among American families diminished significantly, nearing zero by the year 2000.
- The "prosperous employee model," where a single wage earner could support a family, became obsolete.
- In 2000, both parents often worked outside the home, and one income was frequently directed towards paying taxes.
- The time required to manage taxes increasingly impacted family time and the ability to raise children effectively.
Tax Burden Increase
- The growth of government is directly linked to the increasing tax burden.
- Import taxes, liquor, and tobacco taxes were primary sources of government income in the pre-20th-century US.
- Income tax was not in effect until 1913.
- Ohio's state and local government in the 20th Century exceeded the size of the entire US federal government.
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