Back when the federal income tax became law in 1913, taxes didn’t hurt as much as they do today: the rates began at just 1 percent for folks making over $3,000 a year. But even then we had progressive rates that went as high as 7 percent for the richest of the rich.
Things have become a lot more progressive since then. But so far the idea of charging a greater percent based on income hasn't invaded other parts of our lives. That may change if we take cues from what's going on in Europe.
Finland recently began charging traffic fines according to one's income. The more you make, the more you pay. One millionaire caught speeding through downtown Helsinki was just given a ticket for $217,000. And two years ago, a vice president of Nokia's mobile phones unit was fined $148,000 for doing 46 in a 30 mile-per-hour zone.
So far, there's no sign of our politicians pushing the idea of progressive traffic fines. But it’s tax season. Anything could happen.
And that’s the Asman Observer.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox