War and Taxes (Urban Institute Press)

About this book

The history of Americas tax system can be written largely as a history of Americas wars. During World War II Americans were urged to ration food raise money and accept higher taxes. After September 11 we were given tax cuts and asked to shop. Has the United States broken a noble tradition of fiscal sacrifice with the current unprecedented wartime tax cuts or are they the mark of new economic and social forces at work? War and Taxes weighs the question by considering six conflicts that span the American Revolution to the present war in Iraq.