--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just what do we tax under our current…" description: "\"“Just what do we tax under our current system? Work, that’s what. Hard work and productivity. The harder you work, the more you achieve. The more you a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/neal-boortz-4250_income-tax_just-what-do-we-tax-under-our-current-sy_461553.png" --- # Just what do we tax under our current system? Work, that’s… ![“Just what do we tax under our current system? Work, that’s what. Hard work and productivity. The harder you work, the more you achieve. The more you achieve, the more you’re taxed. To make matters worse, under our “progressive” income tax system, the harder you work, the more severe the punishment…” quote by Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/neal-boortz-4250_income-tax_just-what-do-we-tax-under-our-current-sy_461553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/neal-boortz-4250_income-tax_just-what-do-we-tax-under-our-current-sy_461553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/neal-boortz-4250_income-tax_just-what-do-we-tax-under-our-current-sy_461553.png) > ““Just what do we tax under our current system? Work, that’s what. Hard work and productivity. The harder you work, the more you achieve. The more you achieve, the more you’re taxed. To make matters worse, under our “progressive” income tax system, the harder you work, the more severe the punishment actually is!”” [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work leads to higher earnings, which under progressive taxes results in higher rates, creating a disincentive to productivity. **In simple terms:** Hard work gets taxed heavily under progressive tax. Key Takeaway Consider tax reform to reward productivity. Themes taxation work productivity fairness Mood critical analytical Type policy economic When to use this quote - business owners - employees - policy makers - tax advisors Key Concepts progressive tax incentives economic policy Questions to Reflect On - How could tax policy balance fairness and incentive? - What alternatives exist to progressive rates? A Different Perspective Progressive taxes may fund public services, but can discourage effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve Taxed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-taxed-4008738/) [Income tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-tax/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Tax Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-harder-4008737/) [Taxed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxed/) [Taxed Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxed-make-4008739/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [The income tax only taxed the Rockefellers, the Morgans and the Vanderbilts. It was aimed at the top 4 percent, and the top rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/the-income-tax-only-taxed-the-rockefellers-the-morgans-and-the/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [It was an easy thing to tax for a young country. And then gradually we moved to property taxes, manufacturing taxes, and the income…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/it-was-an-easy-thing-to-tax-for-a-young-country-and-then-gradually-we/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [It used to be that we taxed property - zapped farmers basically. And there were very rich people who didn't pay that much tax.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/it-used-to-be-that-we-taxed-property-zapped-farmers-basically-and/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [The philosophy underlying the system of progressive taxation is that the income and wealth of the well-to-do classes can be freely tapped. What the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-philosophy-underlying-the-system-of-progressive-taxation-is-that/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Before Congress instituted the federal income tax in 1913, following the passage of the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, America’s tax burden fell disproportionately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/before-congress-instituted-the-federal-income-tax-in-1913-following/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [It makes no difference to a widow with her savings in a 5 percent passbook account whether she pays 100 percent income tax on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-makes-no-difference-to-a-widow-with-her-savings-in-a-5-percent/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Taxes are indeed very heavy - We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness. Three times as much by our Pride. And four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/taxes-are-indeed-very-heavy-we-are-taxed-twice-as-much-by-our/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Rich bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/rich-bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [President Trump repeatedly says that "America is the highest-taxed country in the world." This is an alternative fact. We pay less in taxes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/president-trump-repeatedly-says-that-america-is-the-highest-taxed/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [ “\[W\]hen you look at who’ll be collecting this tax, the chances of drumming up a conspiracy suddenly look even worse. In America, .03 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/w-hen-you-look-at-who-ll-be-collecting-this-tax-the-chances-of/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“The joint committee invited economists of many economic stripes to model what would happen if America switched from the current code to a unified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-joint-committee-invited-economists-of-many-economic-stripes-to/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“Because consumption comes from three sources: income, savings, and borrowings. Stating the obvious, income comes only from income. Our point? FairTax opponents will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/because-consumption-comes-from-three-sources-income-savings-and/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“History lesson, folks: The tax system we have today—the one we've come to know and love—began ninety-four years ago as a (drum roll, please)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/history-lesson-folks-the-tax-system-we-have-today-the-one-we-ve-come/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [ “\[T\]he last major effort to simplify the income tax system was passed in 1986; succeeding Congresses have amended it sixteen thousand times in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/t-he-last-major-effort-to-simplify-the-income-tax-system-was-passed/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Neal Boortz > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [There is no limit to the hunger politicians have for the money you've worked so hard for. ... You can tell them to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/there-is-no-limit-to-the-hunger-politicians-have-for-the-money-you-ve/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“Whenever passion prevails over reason, truth becomes a casualty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/whenever-passion-prevails-over-reason-truth-becomes-a-casualty/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If it is wrong for you to take money from someone else who earned it, to take their money by force for your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/if-it-is-wrong-for-you-to-take-money-from-someone-else-who-earned-it/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you support the war on drugs in its present form, then you're only paying lip-service to the defense of freedom, and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/if-you-support-the-war-on-drugs-in-its-present-form-then-you-re-only/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [How many Catholic schools do you think teach the students to question the authority of the Pope? Do you believe Christian schools teach students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/how-many-catholic-schools-do-you-think-teach-the-students-to-question/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Barring extreme physical and mental disabilities, each and every one of us is where we are today -- be it poor or wealthy, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/barring-extreme-physical-and-mental-disabilities-each-and-every-one/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Luck is opportunity met by preparation - and to be prepared or unprepared is a personal choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/luck-is-opportunity-met-by-preparation-and-to-be-prepared-or/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“During most election seasons, one group of researchers or another will generate a voter questionnaire highlighting planks from the Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/during-most-election-seasons-one-group-of-researchers-or-another-will/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“Because consumption comes from three sources: income, savings, and borrowings. Stating the obvious, income comes only from income. Our point? FairTax opponents will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/because-consumption-comes-from-three-sources-income-savings-and/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [The lottery is a tax on ignorance, and all the losers that play the game are paying the price for their stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-lottery-is-a-tax-on-ignorance-and-all-the-losers-that-play-the/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [The one thing government has which we (you or I or any corporation) DON'T have, is the ability to use deadly force to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-one-thing-government-has-which-we-you-or-i-or-any-corporation-don/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“The FairTax takes current individual taxpayers out of the tax collection and payment business altogether. Just how many people would that be? Try 165…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-fairtax-takes-current-individual-taxpayers-out-of-the-tax/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“Consider this: Every day in America more people get their evening news from Entertainment Tonight, an insipid syndicated television show covering celebrity news, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/consider-this-every-day-in-america-more-people-get-their-evening-news/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“The fact that FairTax principles haven’t already been passed into law is an indication of failure at every level of politics in every party.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-fact-that-fairtax-principles-haven-t-already-been-passed-into-law/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) [Explore all 114 Neal Boortz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) ## More Income tax quotes > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Higher projected corporate and personal income tax receipts and lower public debt charges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-goodale/higher-projected-corporate-and-personal-income-tax-receipts-and-lower/) [Ralph Goodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-goodale/) > [I guess you will have to go to jail. 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People are not making enough to pay it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-is-some-talk-of-lowering-the-income-tax-and-they-will-have-to/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) [Browse all 374 Income tax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-tax/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just what do we tax under our current system? Work, that’s what. Hard work and productivity. The harder you work, the more you achieve. The more you achieve, the more you’re taxed. 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