Countries need to take stuff from the people who live in them in order to exist. That'sthe <ahref="http://www.askmen.com/dating/curtsmith_250/263_am-rule-refresher-be-a-first-date-pro.html">rule.That's been the rule for as long as we've had countries. It hasn't always been money --back in the day it was grain or goats or maybe just whatever was lying around -- butregardless of what they take, states have always had to take something, and people arevery rarely thrilled to hand it over. Sometimes those states get creative,silly, or downright mean when trying to come up with new reasons to take their due.Sometimes they're struck with the immediate and unassailable need to tax everyone'sbeehives (that would be Peter the Great, who makes an early appearance on this list);sometimes it's just their methodology that's hard to ignore. Take ancient Egypt's incometax policy: Report an honest income like <ahref="http://www.askmen.com/money/mafioso_60/98_mafia.html">a real man, or be executedfor being suspicious. Tax day is April 17th. Here are 10 reminders that nomatter how unwelcome that day is, it could be much, much worse. Continue Reading
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