Thank you for your message. I previously distributed the "How Taxes Really Work" article (as well as other opinion pieces reflecting different perspectives) to my graduate tax class to encourage them to think beyond the rules and regulations. Unfortunately, it is rather easy to focus on the myriad of complex rules and forget that tax policy frequently influences taxpayer behavior beyond what may have been intended. Thus my students are frequently asked to think "outside the box," and consider such topics a tax complexity, alternative forms of taxation, and the impact of taxes on behavior. The article was not written by me, and I have intentionally avoided commenting on its validity in order to encourage my students to think critically, and to assist in the development of their analytical and communication skills. I am unaware of the true author's identity, which is unfortunate, since the piece has generated considerable interest. Unfortunately, one of my students sent it along and erroneously contributed the authorship to me.
In good University City Village tradition, "YOU OWE TOEKNEE AN APOLOGY!"
Ross Bender
http://rossbender.org
In a message dated 3/8/04 6:50:59 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
HOWEVER, you will note that neither of the Economics Professors who
were attributed authorship and quotes on snopes, disputed the content
or accuracy of the article, only their authorship of it.
> In true Internet plague form, the article is now posted all over the
> web,
> attributed to different authors or not at all, and holds prominent
> places in
> lovely conservative web pages like the following:
This is also true of all of the Anti-Tax cut materials... except that
those hold prominent places on all of the Liberal web pages.
Your whining reminds me of that old Communist joke...
Farmer: Commissar, my neighbor has a goat. I do not have a Goat.
Commissar: What do you want me to do about it?
Farmer: Take the goat away from my neighbor!
