Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

A conservative umbrella group called “Tea Party Patriots” unveiled its Contract From America today, composed of items that were the top ten vote getters from their members. Here’s my favorite:

4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform

Adopt a simple and fair single-rate tax system by scrapping the internal revenue code and replacing it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words — the length of the original Constitution. (64.90%)

I have to admit that I like the symbolism of the 4,543 word limit, but what I’d love is to see one of these geniuses actually write a modern tax code that length. And when they’re done, I’d like them to build a 747 using instructions no longer than those used to build the USS Constitution.

And that’s that. With this little bit of snark I’ve gotten through Tax Day without writing a single post about tax rates, tax shares, income tax vs. all federal taxes, who does and doesn’t pay taxes, whether people know how much they pay, or anything else related to the barrage of tax nonsense that assaults us annually on this day. Can’t we just celebrate the birth of Leonardo da Vinci instead?

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate