HOW INCOME TAX BEGAN
By Jamie Floyd

There are few, if any, amendments that have a more interesting history than the Famous Sixteenth Amendment, which authorized federal income tax; “The Congress shall have power to lay, and  collect taxes on income, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states and without regard to census or enumeration.”

Income taxes are assessed directly against the income and therefore, constitute a direct tax. Article I, Section9, Clause 4, says a direct tax must be apportioned to the states according to population, not according to individual income”.

During the Civil War, Congress passed an income tax measure. The Supreme Court warped its legal vision sufficiently to call it an indirect tax, so it was used during the emergency to help finance the War.

In 1894, the Supreme Court reversed itself and ruled a federal income tax is a direct t ax afterall and therefore was unconstitutional.

By 1906 the demand for a redistribution of wealth through a federal income tax was growing in the liberal wings of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
               
The idea  was to “soak the rich”. In 1909, Senator w. Joseph Bailey, a Democrat from Texas, introduced an amendment to a tariff bill that would tax all income of $5,000 or more at 2%.  This amendment was introduced to embarrass the Republicans by forcing them to openly oppose a measure that seemed  to be growing in popularity.
               
When it appeared  the Bailey motion was actually going to pass, conservative Republicans frantically introduced an income tax bill as an Amendment to the Constitution, confident it would be rejected by enough states to defeat it.

By thei means, they felt, the Democrats would get from the states a clear idea of popular sentiment against income tax.

The plan backfired.  The Senate approved the income tax amendment 17-0 (after all, who wants to be against “soaking the rich”).  The House approved the bill 318-14.
               
As one Constitutional textbook reports, “Contrary to all expectations, the income tax amendment was ratified by one state legislature after another and was proclaimed in effect on February 25, 1913.”
               
Congressman F. E. Payne of New York, who had introduced the bill in the House for the Republicans, admitted they wer simply trying to defeatthe Bailey bill and did not really want an income tax.
               
He said an income tax is, “one that makes a nation of liars”  Income tax rates have risen 10 times higher than the original sponsors predicted. 
               
President Thomas Jefferson said in his inaugural address, “ Fellow citizens, a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another , shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement.  And shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
               
History has proved over and over again, through the many years since federal income tax became law, by mistake, that a tax on income is the wrong approach to produce revenue for the federal government.  The only fair tax is a flat tax – the same level of taxation on everyone – rich and poor alike -  on purchases.

Wiley Heard and Al Schexnaider, World War II veterans and RSVP volunteers, manned the RSVP booth at the Alexandria Mall’s Day of Observance on September 10 to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of September 11 – National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Patsy Peterman, left, retired R.N. and RSVP volunteer, offered blood pressure readings at the RSVP booth on September 10, the Day of Service and Remembrance at the Alexandria Mall. At right is Helen Schexnaider, RSVP volunteer.

AARP FREE DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
To recognize and thank veterans for their dedication and commitment to service, the AARP Driver Safety Program will offer a free classroom course to all veterans, regardless of age, from November 1 – 30, 2011.

All military personnel, active duty, retired or reserve and spouses are eligible for the free class.  Spouses must present a valid military identification or membership card to any veterans organization.

Locations and dates for the Free Driving Courses are:

November 3 – England Oaks Senior Living, 1108 Daoust Drive, Alexandria. Call 445-0520 to register.

November 8 – CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, 1804 Masonic Drive, Alexandria.  Call 448-6970 (Pam) to register.

November 9 – Natchitoches Parish Council On Aging, 1015 Keyser Avenue, Natchitoches.  Call 318-357-3250 (Linda Turner) to register.

November 16 – CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, 1804 Masonic Drive, Alexandria.  Call 448-6970 to register (Pam).

November 17 – Avoyelles Council On Aging, 224 Preston Street, Marksville.  Call 318-253-0771 to register.

DEMENTIA LINKED TO HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
People with diabetes have a new reason to keep blood sugar low.  A study of more than 1,000 people found that 27% of those with diabetes developed dementia compared with 20% of people with normal blood sugar.  The study conducted from 1988 t 2003 was published in Neurology magazine.  Noting the rapid rise worldwide in type 2 diabetes the study states controlling the disease is more important than ever.

Diabetes affects close to 26 million children and adults in America with 7 million of them undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association.  Another 76 million have pre-diabetes.  Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and as Americans become heavier, more and more are developing diabetes.

 

REASONS NOT TO RETIRE
More and more Americans are finding that traditional ideas of retirement are passé.  What’s more, there is plenty of evidence that proves staying in the work force or even finding a new job, will insure a longer and happier life.

A question older workers are asking themselves is should they keep working longer than they thought they ever would?  While it was traditional to retire at 65, the reverses in the national and world economy changed that way of thinking. Now, it is necessary to work longer to accumulate additional savings to meet higher cost of living.  But, many older workers today are voluntarily working longer with no end in sight because they feel they want to continue to receive a larger paycheck it took them years to achieve.

Strange as it sounds, nearly a quarter of workers over the age of 70 are still working either full time or part time. The typical older worker averages 20 hours a week of working time.  Many say working pays them bigger dividends, financial, emotional or both.

A majority of workers 65 and older have less than $50,000 saved for retirement.  Workers once looked forward to rest and recreation at the end of a long career.  But today, the vast majority of 60-somethings want to keep working to stay physically and mentally active.

DIRECTORY OF SERVICES ABD PROGRAMS
By Lisa LaCour

Seniors can now live independently, thanks to Acadian On Call.  Besides the traditional home system, they are now offering two new systems.

The first one is a home and yard system.  It is ideal for anyone who likes to be outdoors or to work in their yard.  You can speak directly into the pendant if you should fall or need help.  If you go out of your yard too far an alert will let you know you are out of range.

The second is a Nationwide Cellular System, (MobileHelp) for those who often travel.  This system combines cellular with GPS location.  MobileHelp keeps you connected to a live, monitoring center regardless of your location. This system works with your cell phone.
               
Another device that is helpful is called Med Ready.  This is an automatic medicine dispenser. Your medicine is put unto a dispenser for each dose and a timer is set.  It has a timer that can be set up to four times a day and will alarm when it is time for you to take your medicine.
               
Call Rapides Council for additional information at 445-7985.