--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If Americans actually understood the…" description: "\"“If Americans actually understood the structure of our taxes, they would not only become angry, they might also find our economic and political systems..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/richard-d-wolff-32630_programming_if-americans-actually-understood-the-str_1333374.jpg" --- # If Americans actually understood the structure of our… ![“If Americans actually understood the structure of our taxes, they would not only become angry, they might also find our economic and political systems intolerable because they are the cause of our unjust tax codes ... We could revolutionize the financial conditions of every American city and…” quote by Richard D. Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/richard-d-wolff-32630_programming_if-americans-actually-understood-the-str_1333374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/richard-d-wolff-32630_programming_if-americans-actually-understood-the-str_1333374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/richard-d-wolff-32630_programming_if-americans-actually-understood-the-str_1333374.jpg) > ““If Americans actually understood the structure of our taxes, they would not only become angry, they might also find our economic and political systems intolerable because they are the cause of our unjust tax codes ... We could revolutionize the financial conditions of every American city and town—solve all or most of its tax revenue problems—if the property tax system were simply extended from tangible property to also include intangible property. If you want some quick solutions to our nation's fiscal problems, that would be one. Even on the simple basis of fairness, how can we justify having a property tax system that exempts the intangible property owned mostly by the richest amongst us? What a prime example of the Occupy movement's central point about the economic injustice perpetrated by the 1 percent against the 99 percent.”” [Richard D. Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-wolff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extending property taxes to intangible assets would address wealth inequality and make fiscal policy fairer, but political resistance is strong. **In simple terms:** Tax intangible assets to reduce inequality. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader tax bases. Themes economics justice tax policy Mood critical informed Type policy activist When to use this quote - policy proposals - legislative debate - public education Key Concepts wealth distribution public finance Questions to Reflect On - What would fair taxation look like? - How can public opinion shift? 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