"Let er' Drop"

"Let er' Drop"

Many American citizens today can identify with the taxpayer pictured in the image below. In this cartoon the Legislature is depicted relaxing on top an enormous tax bill which is hovering precariously over the head of the taxpayer. At the time of publication, the coffers of the Federal government were running low from funding programs such as the New Deal and Social Security. Congress and the American public were aware of the fact that at some point taxes would need to be increased in order to provide for these programs. March 1st 1939 the Congressional Digest issued the statement that “unless expenditures are cut, further taxation will be necessary and [Congress] suspects that maybe the President will spring a tax bill late in the session.” Two months after this statement was issued the cartoon below was published in the Baltimore Sun.

1939. "Congress Applies the Brakes to the New Deal." Congressional Digest 18, no. 3: 65-67. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost

Anonymous

Baltimore Sun

5/15/1939