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Mike Winther walks us through taxes and revolution in this lecture. He takes us on a journey back into the colonial period of America. He unravels how taxes, tariffs, and other pivotal factors stirred tensions between the American colonists and the British government. He digs into key historical events that left indelible marks on our nation’s narrative. He talks about how the principles of hope and the recognition of Jesus Christ’s Lordship played influential roles in the American colonists’ fervent fight for independence.
Then Mike talks about finances. He discusses the qualities of contentment and the necessity to appreciate what we have while resisting the want for more money. He also shares why and how we need to rethink taxes. He discusses the role of debt in our lives, property rights, and charity. He talks about how biblical perspectives applied to the ideas and values of our founding fathers and how we can benefit from the same today.
You’ll Learn:
- [1:30] Overview of the British colonial system and how it led to tensions between the American colonists and the British government.
- [4:30] Why the Puritans and Separatists came to America.
- [7:30] The early colonies and charters from the king.
- [10:30] The king had absolute control and searched ships whenever he wanted. The Townshend Acts gave him this authority.
- [13:30] How trade restrictions laid the groundwork for the American Revolution.
- [16:30] How the bulk of the Declaration of Independence was our founding fathers listing abuses of England against us.
- [19:30] Fighting for representation in England and America. No taxation without representation.
- [23:30] Discussion of the principles of hope and recognition of Jesus Christ’s Lordship and how they influenced the American colonists’ fight for independence.
- [27:30] The importance of understanding history from a biblical perspective and its impact on the present.
- [29:08] The importance of being content with what we have and avoiding the love of money.
- [31:07] If you tax something you get less of it. If you subsidize something you get more of it.
- [33:11] How our original constitution in 1787 prohibited income tax.
- [34:28 Mike talks about property rights and private ownership going back to biblical times and the Israelites.
- [37:28] How the government could unfairly confiscate land through property taxes. Especially for owners with fixed incomes.
- [39:39] The difference between direct and indirect taxes.
- [41:18] Benefits of indirect taxes include privacy.
- [43:26] MIke explains how a self-reporting system can leave room for cheating.
- [45:08] There is no need for cheating with reasonable consumption taxes.
- [46:56] Mike shares all of the benefits of rethinking taxes.