Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Originally the Constitution gave Congress the 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" in article 1 Section 8. This link has the full text as well as context and history. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/clause-1/
The original Constitution didn't have an income tax but the 16th amendment explicitly gives Congress the legal right to impose and collect an income tax.
This link explains the history of it. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/constitutional-amendments-amendment-16-income-taxes#:~:text=Amendment%20Sixteen%20to%20the%20Constitution,determine%20it%20based%20on%20population.
There are people that argue that it's unconditional, but if they aren't paying taxes they are absolutely breaking the law and if the IRS ever audits them they'll be in for a world of hurt. Even Benjamin Franklin said the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Please, for your and your family's sake, pay your taxes. Anyone that tells you that you don't have to is either very wrong or intentionally lying to you.