Still paying for the Spanish American War with your cell phone?

[Rich Parsons]

Just reading the junk in my cell phone bill.

[quote}
Tax on Talk!

The Spanish-American War ended 107 years ago - so why are you still paying a 3% monthly excise tax to help fund it!?

In 1898, President McKinley imposed the Federal Excise Tax law, or "Tax on Talk." It was supposed to be a TEMPORARY "luxury tax" on the very wealthy - who were the only ones that had phones at the time.

But a grassroots move is underway to wipe out this unfair and outrageous tax!

There are bills in Congress to repeal this outdated and unfair tax - and we need your help!!

www.mywireless.org
[/quote]

I checked the site and it has how much each state pays.

I just thought I would share.

 

[arnisador]

Keep charging it until the Spanish are defeated, I say!

Seriously, sounds weird...but then, the income tax is also a temporary wartime measure, until we win WW I.

 

[JAMJTX]

At least in some states, taxes on your phone bill still go to the railroad companies.

They ran the original telegraph lines along the railroads - made a lot of sense at the time.

Now there are no more telegraph lines, the phone lines are not tied to the rail lines any more, but the companies still get a piece of the money.

 

[Gemini]

Just imagine my surprise to find New York at the top of the % list. Real shocker....

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Amazing! You would think that someone, some politician
would have gotten rid of this tax! Oh wait, what politician
ever really wants to take money away from the
government or a special interest group!

Brian R. VanCise

 

[Martial Tucker]

But a grassroots move is underway to wipe out this unfair and outrageous tax!

There are bills in Congress to repeal this outdated and unfair tax - and we need your help!!

You may fire when ready, Gridley!!

 

[Makalakumu]

I think that many may find themselves paying for various wars this country has engaged in for long past the time we fought in them. Every cent of our current war will be paid for by future generations for instance...

In a way, a tax like this was ahead of the curve...

 

[Loki]

Wow, that's bizzare! I'm guessing I wouldn't be saying this if I knew the origin of some other taxes, but paying taxes to fund a war that ended a century ago? Bizzare.

For those interested in further reading, here's a link to the the page on mywireless.com

Rich, thanks for posting.

 

[JAMJTX]

"Just imagine my surprise to find New York at the top of the % list. Real shocker...."

My sister lives in NY and she is the one that pointed out to me that part of her phone bill goes to the rail road. You guys are really getting hosed.

 

[Gemini]

You guys are really getting hosed.

We should just have that as our new state slogan. Wouldn't that look great on a license plate?

 

[JAMJTX]

That would look great. There was a time when Indiana's license plates said "Land of Taxes".