These taxes are levied from people's income, consumption goods, and wealth. Tax brackets are used to determine the percentage of income a person must pay to the government through their check. Tariffs have not always been substantial. Before World War II, tax rates were as low as 1% to 4% (Roberts, 2014). Consumer items, mostly purchased at a grocery or wholesale store, are also subject to taxation, commonly known as sales tax. Although these taxes vary from state to state, the total cost that the individual pays is the amount of the items purchased plus a percentage towards the government. Simply put, if a person were to purchase a single loaf of bread, that person would have to pay at least two taxes; once on income and once on sales tax. Taxes on wealth come in the form of an estate tax. Owning a car, house, land, boat, etc. involves additional taxes. Basically, if you own something of value, you have to pay the government to maintain it. However, there are benefits that come with taxation. Because government plays a role in so many affairs, it can reduce opportunities for colluding monopolies and oligopolies. Additionally, the government can reduce the copious amounts of pollution that money-grubbing corporations emit in the form of air, land, and water. Naturally, this increases production costs and increases tariffs or prices for the consumer, driving costs