The income tax system is as much about the government asserting dominance over citizens (and residents) as it is about raising revenue. There could be more eff

The income tax system is as much about the government asserting dominance over citizens (and residents) as it is about raising revenue. There could be more efficient revenue collection schemes devised (less friction), taxes with fewer collection points, but then everyone would not have to submit to Caesar annually. It is a tribute to the success of popular delusions that the 16th amendment was, and pretty much all new taxes are, sold as tax-the-rich schemes.