Tax Decalogue for the Welfare State

  Economist at Fayetteville, Arkansas

             I.      ONE GOLDEN RULE LEADS ALL THE REST: THE TAX THAT YIELDS THE MOST IS BEST.

           II.      LET RACKING TAXES BE REPEALED, SAVE THOSE OF SURE and STABLE YIELD.  

        III.      DIVERSIFY YOUR SOURCES; WHEN THE GOOSE IS NAKED PLUCK THE HEN.

         IV.      DESIGN YOUR TAX WITH SNARES AND COILS
TO CATCH EVADERS IN YOUR TOILS.

           V.      MAKE TAXES CERTAIN; LEAVE NO SCOPE
FOR ARGUMENT OR FOOLISH HOPE.

         VI.      BE FAIR TO ALL; FROM SAINT OR SOT
COLLECT NO MORE THAN HE HAS GOT.

      VII.      LET PAYMENTS BE CONVENIENT; WHEN A MAN HAS MONEY, CATCH HIM THEN.

    VIII.      USE HIDDEN TAXES; PEOPLE FRET WHEN THEY TOO PLAINLY SEE YOUR NET.

         IX.      ALLOW APPEALS FROM THOSE WHO BALK; BUT TAKE THE TAX BEFORE THE SQUAWK.

           X.      SEND TAX COLLECTORS OUT IN PAIRS; AND KEEP A TRAINING CAMP FOR SPARES.