Here's what history teaches us about progressive taxation: it starts narrow, targets only the ultra-wealthy, then gradually creeps down the income ladder. California's latest wealth tax? Marketed as hitting billionaires exclusively. Sound familiar? The income tax began exactly the same way—initially designed for the richest ~1% of earners. Yet decades later, it became a standard obligation across middle-class households worldwide. The pattern repeats because once governments establish a new revenue mechanism, the threshold rarely stays fixed. Economic pressures, budget gaps, and political cycles push for expansion. This is precisely why many in the crypto space advocate for decentralized alternatives and self-custody—to limit dependence on systems where the rules keep shifting.