Getting Down to Brass Tacks

You don't think excessive taxation changes people's thinking?...Think again!

It is argued that the idiom, "Getting down to brass tacks", is derived from the "Brass Tax of 1854". The tax, put into place by the U.S. government, was received as a direct attack on Southern slave owners, who relied heavily on brass products for daily functions on the plantation. "Get down to brass tax" was initially used to mean "stoop to someone's level" or "deal a low blow" in reference to the South's interpreted "cheap shot" from the U.S. government.

After the Civil War, however, it is also noteworthy that the tax, in addition to creating revenue for the government, led to a sharp increase in the cost of many instruments. Tubas, trumpets, cornets, french horns, and other popular brass instruments gave way to flutes, piccolos, clarinets and oboes as the more affordable woodwind instruments' popularity skyrocketed. Evidence of this is most notable when examining Civil War marching music which relies heavily on the beating of percussion instruments and melodies from the woodwind family. Brass instruments are noticeably absent.

What things are we going to go without or give up after the highest deficits in the history of the United States along with the most punitive income taxes ever levied after January 1, 2011?  

Wow, what if Washington Politicians let on about all of these taxes before the 2010 Presidential Elections?....Those stupid voters will be too late to figure it out!  Har! Har! LOL!