Author Demystifies U.S. Tax Policy
John Fox, author of two books on the U.S. tax code, visited the Circle on Monday, December 7 to share his insights on U.S. tax policy.
Interested students gathered in the McBaine Studio Theater to hear his lecture, which encompassed a variety of topics, including federal income tax rates, Social Security, and the home mortgage interest rate deduction.
In a show of bilateral cooperation, the event was co-hosted by Groton’s Young Democrats Club and Young Republicans Club.
Mr. Fox began his talk by explaining how federal income taxes work in the United States. After laying out facts and statistics regarding different pieces of the tax code, he prompted listeners to ask themselves questions about what they believe to be “fair.”
He also spoke about common tactics used by politicians to make tax policies sound better or worse than they really are. Being able to spot these tactics, he said, is important when forming opinions and voting.
Mr. Fox has delivered similar talks at schools including Deerfield, Amherst High, and Williston Northampton. “What I am hoping to do is at least begin a process by which young people think [U.S. tax policy] is accessible and that it is really important to their future,” Mr. Fox said. His long-term goal is to record talks about the U.S. tax code and make them available online for teachers.
Mr. Fox practiced law for almost forty years and has been teaching courses on U.S. tax policy at Mount Holyoke College since 1984. He has written two books: If Americans Really Understood the Income Tax and 10 Tax Questions the Candidates Don't Want You to Ask. His body of work also includes numerous op-eds in publications such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, all of which focus on U.S. tax policy.—Jack McLaughlin '16, co-head of the Young Republicans Club
Photo by Jack McLaughlin '16
Photo by Jack McLaughlin '16
Groton School Mission: To inspire lives of character, scholarship, leadership, and service within a diverse, inclusive, and close-knit community.
© 2024 Groton School. All Rights Reserved.
