I see this become apparent on social media every so often and it's really just depressing how widespread the misunderstanding is.
51% of Americans who were polled in a 2021 survey agreed with the statement that "You pay your marginal tax rate on all of your income".
Fun fact! The government of the Byzantine Empire was fairly straightforward. Notably, their tax system was a simple flat tax, with additional taxes levied on landowners based on the value of their holdings.
"Byzantine" became synonymous with excessive complexity because—big surprise incoming—some Anglos just made shit up. Basically the 18th century RETVRN bros wanted to trash everything that came after the Roman Empire.
Crap, I have 18th century brainworms to exorcise?
For these, you might need to undergo a procedure that involves drilling a hole in your head.
Woo, I always wanted to join the Trepa Nation.
Thanks! 18th century historians making shit the fuck up is not too surprising, but i hadn't heard about this falsehood yet.
Yeah everything had to fit the Gibbons-esque take about falling into "decadence" and becoming "soft" and "Eastern" shudder
It sucks how pervasive that shit is. It sucks that it was still worming around in my head! Lol