Benjamin Franklin never paid income taxes

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:01][music] [music] [singing] [music] >> You know the only two certainties in life are death and taxes.

[00:00:16]>> [laughter] >> Oh, Benjamin Franklin, how terribly droll. You know he was referring to tariffs. Income tax didn't exist yet. I know. [laughter] It won't be created until we need to raise money for our eventual Civil War.

[00:00:29]Then the Supreme Court will rule it unconstitutional. And then we'll change the Constitution with the 16th Amendment.

[00:00:36]>> [laughter] >> And then of course, the income tax won't get into widespread use until World War II.

[00:00:44]Do I know you, gentlemen?

[00:00:48]>> [laughter] >> No.

[00:00:52]>> [music]