Mid-Week Musings
by Michael DiMatteo
Triple Option Publishing
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Quote of the Week
“In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order.”
— The Lessons of History: Will Durant
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Taxation and Rousseau
From the work: The Story of Civilization - From Rousseau to Revolution
Read this quote. It deals with Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), one of the most controversial figures in Western history, and his encounter with a peasant during his travels (he walked most everywhere): “On this walk, he entered a cottage and asked if he might buy some dinner; the peasant offered him barley, bread, and milk, saying this was all he had; but when he saw that [Rousseau] was not a tax collector, he opened a trapdoor, descended, and came up with what bread, ham, eggs, and wine. Rousseau offered to pay; the peasant refused, and explained that he had to hide the better food lest he suffer additional taxation.” (Page 12).
Think on that for a moment.
Even in the 18th century, there were those attempting to get around paying taxes. I keep asking myself during these times why we, the population, complain and complain about taxation, those complaints via social media, amongst our friends, or, worst of all, our tax accountant (I’m sure they hear so much of it, it must drive them up a wall), yet WE THE PEOPLE continue to vote those representatives in that do the same thing, especially at the state level. I am confounded to see the states of Illinois, California, and New York, amongst others, continually raise taxes in every aspect of people’s lives. You name it—any personal monetary benefit, and the state will find a way to tax it, and do so without remorse. The federal government isn’t far behind in that regard, and both parties are responsible for it.
Complaints, complaints, and more complaints, but as soon as the prospect of cutting is brought up, then the complaints begin anew, but this time, redirect toward what may be cut so as to save money. This group, that group, the poor, the homeless, the…everything but the middle class who get soaked wrung out like an old sponge, every last method of taxing them used to get as much as possible. Tax the rich, cry some. Really?
Top 10% =72%
Middle 40% =25%
Bottom 50% =3%
*Figures take in aggregate from IRS data
*Bottom 50% is roughly those making $50,000 or less.
None of this factors in corruption, fraud (an absolutely massive number - estimated in the hundreds of billions per year), and other ways money simply dissipates.
“The rich have to pay their fair share.” What’s “fair share?” Is there a dollar amount? Further, what entitles a government entity, or anyone else, for that matter, access to the wealth someone has accrued through their creativity, business acumen, or ingenuity? Certainly, the state needs taxes (Alexander Hamilton created the stock exchange for the expressed reason to bring in revenue to the federal government to pay for the Revolutionary War), but at what point are WE allowed to keep the lion’s share of what we’ve created through our work, our sweat, and our ingenuity? To my mind, income tax is the greatest legal thievery this nation has ever invented. Thanks, Wilson!
Supply-side tax cuts are not a theory; they are a matter of historical record. When marginal tax rates are lowered, people respond predictably: they work more, invest more, and expand productive activity. This pattern appears in the tax reforms of the 1920s, the Kennedy cuts of the 1960s, the Reagan reforms of the 1980s, and again with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Serious economic research that isolates tax policy from other variables consistently shows higher output, stronger employment, and increased private investment following rate reductions. The claim is not that tax cuts magically pay for themselves, but that they grow the tax base—an approach far more sustainable than endlessly extracting more from the same narrow group of taxpayers.
The bottom line? WE THE PEOPLE need to make up our minds—either support tax cuts along with program cuts, or continue to get taxed into oblivion. There’s only one way to do it—Vote. Not party line, not red or blue, but policy. Always policy.
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Quick Observations
- Winter storm in TN…we survived.
- Linemen are incredible people that do an unbelievable job (Power company workers).
- Heartwarming to see so many people offering to help others in emergency situations as happened this week.
- Looking for relaxing music? Cyan Dew (classical sessions), is wonderful
-Whiskey alert! Woodinville finished in sherry casks is outstanding.
-Another great round of NFL playoff football—but—something was missing without the Chicago Bears!
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Recommendation - Will and Ariel Durant
You may not have heard of Will and Ariel Durant. They were a husband-and-wife team of historians who wrote history that was/is immensely readable for the average person. I’ve read a number of their works, and the ease of reading is simply wonderful. They explain historical events and consequences such that not only does one feel they’re there, but it is also enjoyable to read— a tough task when writing history. My three-book novel series, Flavius Fettotempi, attempts such lofty heights—making historical fiction readable and enjoyable—but it is a monumental task and one that I’m not sure I’ve succeeded at. Will and Ariel Durant, however, have done so, and at such a high level as to make it look easy.
They’re best known for their incredible series of 11 volumes— The Story of Civilization, written between 1935-1975. I have one volume (Rousseau and Revolution) and recently began reading it again (I hope to purchase the entire series via eBay sometime in the future), and it’s remarkable. Their gift of storytelling, along with reducing significant historical events down to their most understandable “bones,” is great.
So, as the winter drags on and you find yourself cozying up to the fireplace, or the space heater, or wherever you’re the most comfortable, and you wish to read something of substance—anything by Will and Ariel Durant is worth picking up. And you’ll learn something too!
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Closing Reflection
It’s the little things that often turn out not so little. Take the notion of getting up in the morning, without pain. Flipping the light switch and, without any fanfare, the lights flick on (I would be funny if there was a trumpet announcing it every time). Need a glass of water? Turn the little knob or handle, and there it is. Plumbing, electricity, heating/air conditioning—even windows, cars, planes…we take our modern world so for granted. And when it’s not working as planned, say, during a storm, we’re a bit panicked…praying for the power to return, or hoping the water line gets fixed. This week, because of the ice storm, we lost internet for 2 days. Luckily, I had an over-the-air antenna and we were able to get some television. Our son came over and saw the “contraption” and sat with me while we watched the playoff games. I had to adjust the antenna once or twice as the screen pixilated, and he said, “What’s that all about?”
“Well,” I responded, “when the picture needs help, you have to adjust the antenna to get it right. Sometimes, when we were desperate, we put tin foil on the antenna to help get a better signal.”
He looked at me as though I was from a different dimension.
“That’s nuts,” he said.
“Yeah, well, welcome to 1975.”
I can recall my maternal grandfather telling me about the first time he had electricity and running water in his farmhouse, and the first time he saw an airplane. “It was a miracle,” he told me.
I guess the point of this closing reflection is to keep in mind just how we live. For the vast majority of human history, none of these things we enjoy was available, including such basic items as plumbing and electricity (The Romans had plumbing, as did the Chinese before them, but it was rudimentary—and lead was used as piping—just saying). We go about our everyday lives rarely giving any of it a second thought. That’s not a bad thing, to my mind. It’s our lifetime, and the fruit of hard-working, inventive people who helped make our lives what they are.
It’s just good to be reminded now and again that gratitude is not a bad thing.
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— Michael DiMatteo
Triple Option Publishing
©2026
Epic post! Love your take on taxation and your nod to the Durants.