What's wrong with a war surtax?

In World War I, Congress enacted a highly progressive income tax and a corporate excess-profits tax that together financed about 60% of the wartime costs.

In World War II, Congress raised income tax rates and lowered the point at which the tax kicked in, requiring almost 90% of U.S. workers to file tax returns. It also imposed a 95% excess-profits tax on businesses, established wage and price controls and rationed some goods. Even so, taxes covered only about 40% of the costs of the war.

In 1950, Congress financed the Korean War entirely by taxation, with no borrowing…

The clever approach of the Share the Sacrifice Act is that it asks those of us who have not endured combat to pay a little extra to support those who are in harm’s way on our behalf.