"Mr. Taxpayer versus Mr. Tax Spender": Taxpayers' Associations, Pocketbook Politics, and the Law during the Great Depression

During the Great Depression, local taxpayers associations emerged to examine government operations and advocate for operational and fiscal reforms. These associations aimed to reduce government costs and increase efficiency. "Mr. Taxpayer versus Mr. Tax Spender" explores the history and tactics of these grassroots organizations, connecting them to the populist tradition in American politics and other historical impulses.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 225 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2023
Publisher: Temple University Press,U.S.

The Great Depression witnessed a remarkable surge in the formation of local taxpayers associations, an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of American politics. These concerned citizens, driven by a genuine desire to improve the operations of their governments, diligently examined the workings of state, city, and county administrations. They then relentlessly pressed local officials for operational and fiscal reforms, seeking to reduce the cost of these governments and make them more efficient and cost-effective.

These grassroots taxpayers leagues, which began to emerge in the 1860s, experienced their heyday in the 1930s. Linda Upham-Bornstein, in her book "Mr. Taxpayer versus Mr. Tax Spender," provides a comprehensive overview of these leagues, tracing their evolution and the strategies they employed to achieve their objectives.

The formation of taxpayer associations was a direct response to the economic crisis of the Great Depression and the expansion of government. These organizations aimed to reclaim control over government spending and limit the growth of government bureaucracy. Taxpayer activists employed a range of tools, including constructive economy, political efforts, tax strikes, and even legal action, to exert pressure on local officials and achieve their goals.

"Mr. Taxpayer versus Mr. Tax Spender" connects the collective tax resistance of the 1930s to the populist tradition in American politics and to broader impulses in American political and legal history. It sheds light on the ways in which ordinary citizens, driven by a sense of civic responsibility, took matters into their own hands to challenge the excesses of government and advocate for a more accountable and efficient government.

The book provides a valuable insight into the history of American politics and the role of ordinary citizens in shaping the course of their nation. It serves as a reminder that the power to effect change lies in the hands of the people, and that by working together and advocating for their interests, they can bring about positive change in their communities and beyond.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781439923740