"The income tax is a twentieth-century socialist experiment that has failed. Before the income tax was imposed on us just 80 years ago, government had no claim to our income. Only sales, excise, and tariff taxes were allowed"

This quote by Alan Keyes suggests that the income tax is an unsuccessful experiment of socialism. He argues that before the income tax was imposed on people, the federal government had no claim to their earnings. Rather, the federal government counted on sales, excise, and tariff taxes. Keyes suggests that the earnings tax is a type of socialism, which has not been successful. He thinks that the federal government needs to not have a claim to people' income, which the federal government must instead depend on other types of tax. This quote suggests that Keyes is against the earnings tax and believes that it is an inefficient form of taxation. He thinks that the federal government must depend on other forms of taxation, such as sales, excise, and tariff taxes.