Would civilization continue and would the USA even exist if there were no income taxes?

The income tax wasn't adopted until 1913 with the ratification of the 16th Amendment: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration." Before that, the USA somehow managed to grow to be a world power. What if the income tax were repealed and people got to actually keep ALL the money they earned. Would the economy collapse, anarchy reign, civilization be destroyed? Or would things actually get better for most people, except the politicians who have become addicted to our money?

Public Comments

1. put a retail sales tax in place to make it up.
2. The world would be a better place!!!!
3. You make it sound like the politicians are taking our tax money and putting it their own pockets. A completely free-market economy with no income redistribution would be the end of this country. It would rapidly descend into a landed aristocracy followed closely by an armed rebellion.
4. politicians would find something to tax. but that is a good point and a good question.
5. Yes. Taxes would be levied at some other point - possibly on all sales, for instance - that might be more regressive or less efficient, but it would probably be workable.
6. Income tax is only required to feed the massive bloated federal welfare-military-industrial complex. Drop 80% of federal programs, or even 50%, and you could drop income tax entirely.
7. There were taxes before the 16th amendment. And it's not only the politicians that wouldn't have government money any more. Think about it - no more social security, welfare, or federal subsidies for roads, schools.... and tons of other things. And any national defense - forget it, any country could just march in and take over, since there wouldn't be anyone to fight them off. And that's just a very short list of all the things that wouldn't be funded any more.
8. Of course there need to be taxes. Taxes fund everything from the military, to research of medicine, to building roads and highways, etc,etc. The tax system does need to be changed however. I love when Democrats say the Republicans want "tax cuts for the rich". Most everyone has heard that before. But not to many people know that the richest 5% of the the population already pay 90% of all income tax. Democrats don't get it that it is the rich who seperate this country from any other. The rich business owners are the ones who employee the other 95% of us. Without them, the middle class and lower class wouldn't have jobs. What is cutting taxes for the lower class going to do? They get a couple hundred extra dollars a year. What will they do with that extra money? SOME (notice I said some, and not ALL) will but drugs. Most others will waste it on unnecessary things. $150 pair of shoes. $5000 rims for there car, etc. But if you cut taxes for the rich it will have them hundreds of thousands is not MILLIONS of dollars. And what are they going to do with that money? They are going to dump it back into the economy, giving more people jobs. They might open a new plant to produce or sell whtever it is hey do. This will create hundreds of new jobs. Why con't most people grasp this idea???????????????
9. It says this AMENDMENT XVI Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913. Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. and was passed in 1909! This was drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson! It is called the US Constitution! I assume they felt that since we were a Republic that some things needed to be funded! "Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;" And how would you support an Army or the Congress, or do you just want to do away with our Constitution? I suspect the US would be ripe pickings at some point. And your money would be worthless. One thing you need to remember is that back in those days most of America would eat if there were no income tax! Most lived, or had a family that lived, on a farm! Today most of us would starve to death! I agree the code needs to be changed and that government needs to quit laying all those hidden taxes on you, Like gas! The latest farm bill I believe ups the price of cigarettes by another $0.83! It was bi-partisan and the president signed it!
10. you bet ye, but at a slower pace, which might be a good thing.