Here at Americans for Tax Reform we have worked tirelessly to educate the public about the dangers of excessive taxation: job losses, businesses closing, economic stagnation - effectivly misery all round.

Now we have one more thing to blame high taxes on: breaking up the Beatles.

That's right, one of the greatest cultural tragedies of the 20th century was caused by big government. In last week's Times of London,  Daniel Finkelsteinwrites how "penal tax rates that helped to destroy the group’s cohesion".

Finkelstein continues:

First told to give away vast amounts to avoid tax bills — which they did in a series of madcap ventures, offering money to any old person who dropped by with a demo tape — then told they had to make £120,000 in order to keep just £10,000. Soon their finances were in chaos and their energy sapped, as nutters beseiged Apple HQ pressing tapes on them. They also ran a clothes shop as a tax dodge.

Bramwell blames Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, directly. “There were enough new regulations and red tape to tie up free enterprise for years ... One minute Swinging London was like a giant theme park, the envy of the world, then they — Wilson and his gang — closed it down. It was as if they went out and stamped on it.”

So there you have it. Exhibit #98612323 on the negative effects of big government. In memory of the great band and their struggle against big government, what could be more appropriate than the lyrics to their 1966 song, The Taxman:

1,2,3,4,1,2

Let me tell you how it will be,
There’s one for you, nineteen for me,
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah yeah, I’m the Taxman.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user, whojackb's.