Jesse Eisinger

So they pass a corporate income tax for the first time. And there's essentially no debate about it. And they pass it to try to cut the knees off of the movement for the income tax. And so it's like he has to do something, but he wants to do as little as possible. Exactly. And he's trying. So what he they passed the corporate income tax, which is a huge victory for taxation in America.

So they pass a corporate income tax for the first time. And there's essentially no debate about it. And they pass it to try to cut the knees off of the movement for the income tax. And so it's like he has to do something, but he wants to do as little as possible. Exactly. And he's trying. So what he they passed the corporate income tax, which is a huge victory for taxation in America.

So they pass a corporate income tax for the first time. And there's essentially no debate about it. And they pass it to try to cut the knees off of the movement for the income tax. And so it's like he has to do something, but he wants to do as little as possible. Exactly. And he's trying. So what he they passed the corporate income tax, which is a huge victory for taxation in America.

And then what happens is that doesn't succeed in cutting off the momentum for the income tax.

And then what happens is that doesn't succeed in cutting off the momentum for the income tax.

And then what happens is that doesn't succeed in cutting off the momentum for the income tax.

And so they embrace it as a legislative gambit, and Hull, who has been the great champion of the income tax, is against it because he knows that it's going to be the death knell for the income tax and his dream and his obsession. They pass the income tax amendment, and they pass the tariff bill, and then the Republicans have wildly miscalculated it.

And so they embrace it as a legislative gambit, and Hull, who has been the great champion of the income tax, is against it because he knows that it's going to be the death knell for the income tax and his dream and his obsession. They pass the income tax amendment, and they pass the tariff bill, and then the Republicans have wildly miscalculated it.

And so they embrace it as a legislative gambit, and Hull, who has been the great champion of the income tax, is against it because he knows that it's going to be the death knell for the income tax and his dream and his obsession. They pass the income tax amendment, and they pass the tariff bill, and then the Republicans have wildly miscalculated it.

and it goes through the states and passes, and then we get the 16th Amendment.

and it goes through the states and passes, and then we get the 16th Amendment.

and it goes through the states and passes, and then we get the 16th Amendment.

Because we are in a moment where our politics are totally calcified, where we have horrific wealth inequality, where our democracy is fragile, where people feel like they have no voice or ability to change anything. And so I have been obsessed with this period of time that looks very similar to our current period, but was a time of extraordinary reform.

Because we are in a moment where our politics are totally calcified, where we have horrific wealth inequality, where our democracy is fragile, where people feel like they have no voice or ability to change anything. And so I have been obsessed with this period of time that looks very similar to our current period, but was a time of extraordinary reform.

Because we are in a moment where our politics are totally calcified, where we have horrific wealth inequality, where our democracy is fragile, where people feel like they have no voice or ability to change anything. And so I have been obsessed with this period of time that looks very similar to our current period, but was a time of extraordinary reform.

And I'm trying to understand why they were able to change things, and we can't.

And I'm trying to understand why they were able to change things, and we can't.

And I'm trying to understand why they were able to change things, and we can't.

Right. So what's happened is we've had the Great Depression, we've had World War II. Those were extraordinarily leveling events for the American economy. And in the 50s and 60s, the way a CEO is paid and wealthy people, by and large, are paid, they're paid salaries. So the giant corporations of the time are companies like GM, and executives aren't being paid.

Right. So what's happened is we've had the Great Depression, we've had World War II. Those were extraordinarily leveling events for the American economy. And in the 50s and 60s, the way a CEO is paid and wealthy people, by and large, are paid, they're paid salaries. So the giant corporations of the time are companies like GM, and executives aren't being paid.