The 16th Amendment authorized individual taxation of Americans, which we know as the income tax. It became a law that gave congress the right to collect taxes on income, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Up until 1913, Americans kept 100% of their earnings. Despite this, America still had schools, colleges, roads, railroads, streets, subways, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps (who managed to win 8 wars and fight one- the War of 1812- to a draw).
The continued theft of our personal successes needs to stop.