before 1913 there was no income tax, no central bank, and gold was money.

in 1913 the constitution was amended to allow the government to directly tax the citizens and the federal reserve was established.
for 58 years the banks printed so much money and stole so much purchasing power that America had to default on its obligation to redeem dollars for gold altogether in 1971.

and now the situation has deteriorated to the point where you have to report to the government how much you make and pay taxes even if you don't live and work in America,
simply for being a holder of an American citizenship.

not only that but the government is forcing foreign banks to spy on Americans with FATCA, so much so that some foreign banks no longer want any American customers,
because spying on them is too much hassle.

America used to stand for freedom, it was the land of opportunities and the land of the free, where government was kept in check and money was honest.
it has become but a shadow of its former self, not much better than China and Russia.

will America ever return to be as it was at the beginning of the 20th century?