My friend and I are having a useful debate. Perhaps you’d like to join this discussion.

He says that laws can be, and sometimes are, corrupt. I say we live and thrive under the Rule of Law; and if is Legal, it is the very antithesis of corruption. I will quickly qualify my statement by adding the following caveat: many laws are bad and desperately in need of changing. My advice is to always comply and only then complain.

However, my friend makes some good points particularly in reference to the Income Tax, but first the three definitions of Corruption, use any or all in your comments to this post:
Corruption: NOUN
1. dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery
2. the process by which something, typically a word or expression, is changed from its original use or meaning to one that is regarded as erroneous or debased
3. the more archaic but just as valid; decay and putrefaction

As the picture indicates, our specific focus is the 16 th. Amendment to the Constitution and its modifications from 1913 to 1935.

My friend makes some good points regarding the Income Tax, so I will quote him as follows:
“An example of legal corruption is government forcing money from young workers and giving it to retired millionaires. This example has dishonesty: “You are getting back what you paid in.” Lie. Those in power at the federal government since 1935, always took and continue to take, payroll taxes directly from employees and their employers and bribe seniors for votes, most of whom are wealthier than most workers and vote at the highest rate of any age group.”

My friend always says the Income Tax slams the brakes on free enterprise and productivity.

Even though the Income Tax is the Law, I find myself wanting to agree.

The alternative my friend recommends is a progressive form of consumption tax. This legislation, known as the Fair Tax, is fighting its way through Congress.
The IRS is massively complicated and full of loopholes. Should we just keep complying and complaining, or should we do some research and start advocating for some changes?

It seems to me a consumption tax gives me the option of saving money by being frugal and buying less. It would give us back control of our tax dollars.