[winner45]

The STATE is your enemy

[Libertarianize the GOP]

bump

[lilylangtree]

I agree. Repeal the 16th Amendment but for heaven's sakes don't replace it with a national sales tax. It would be too easy for Congress to levy taxes faster. WA State does not have a state income tax, one of two remaining--Wyoming is the other, I think. Everytime a new governor pops up, first thing he/she starts talking about is instituting a state income, even when the dust of the election hasn't even settled. Even though Gary Locke has been governor for 6 years, he appointed Bill Gates, Sr to a governor-supported recommending a state income tax (that was announced last week to prove the issue isn't dead). Now this is fine if all the people are democrats since they just love instituting and raising taxes. However, as a Republican, who has endured 8 years of Clintoonians and 20 years of democrat governors, this is no balm to sooth fears of runaway taxes. Another instance of runaway "increase taxes" legislators--when those crooks returned to Washington, DC, they voted themselves a 3.1% pay increase. This is a total of $18,000 since 1999. However, these same crooks voted for only a 1.4% cost of living increase for social security and then took half of that by increasing the medicare premium. Plus, they leave a whole lot of people without unemployment benefits. Now, if I am correct, these same loathsome legislators at the first of the year, receive another pay increase. Actually, they receive a pay increase twice in less than 6 months--one when the federal government employees receive theirs in October followed by an increase at the beginning of the new year. Runaway tax legislators--there's no stopping them. Who guards the guards guarding the hen house?

[fellowpatriot]

Was the sixteenth ammendment ever ratified?

I remember reading an article a few years back from a former IRS employee who was making the case that it wasn't.

Does anyone know?

[PatrickHenry]

On the downside, should he "choose" not to purchase, the consumer may starve or be destined to a rather austere life.

That's not a valid criticism of the sales tax. In Florida, for example, supermarket food purchases are not taxed. Nor are residential rents (until they get into the "luxury" level), nor medical services. In principle, and in practice, the poor can live their lives relatively unaffected by a well-crafted sales tax.

[al_possum39]

I believe the only direct tax that the Federal Government can levy without apportionment is a tax on income (granted by the sixteenth amendment) so, a sales tax would require a new amendment or the tax would have to be apportioned.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

The government says to the citizen: "Your earnings are not exclusively your own; we have a claim on them, and our claim precedes yours; we will allow you to keep some of it, because we recognize your need, not your right; but whatever we grant you for yourself is for us to decide."

Dont that just piss you off ? it does me!

[fella]

Click HERE for more about this interesting lady.

[dpa5923]

self-ping

[txzman]

A great constititional bump!

[budwiesest]

we will allow you to keep some of it, because we recognize your need, not your right; but whatever we grant you for yourself is for us to decide."

Not long ago someone posted the difference between a 100% tax-free society (totally free) with a 100% taxed society (totally enslaved). While a certain level of govt. is necessary for a society to function in a manner befitting a 'freedom' loving populous, I'd much prefer the decision as to how much tax shall be applied be left up to those being taxed, rather than those whose sole purpose is to expend it, as well as the manner in which it is collected.

Besides, slavery was outlawed years ago and tax slavery is no exception.

[metesky]

And the repeal 17th while you're at it.

Increase the size of the House to 5,000+ with a new amendment.

Put that part about being a representative Republic back in play.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration." –The 16th Amendment

This amendment is the worst amendment ever added to the Constitution. It's time to repeal it.