Who gets to determine what is a "basic necessity" of life? Who gets to determine what cost level of these "basic necessities" is fair?
By accepting that we "have a right to have the basics of life untaxed by the government -- that's every man, woman, and child" then we accept that the government has the right to tax us on everything else. By accepting your reasoning, then we accept that the government owns all money and only allows us to keep what we want (or gives it back) based on what the government decides is "basic necessity" and what is an appropriate amount.
Show me where the right you describe has been defined?
By accepting that we "have a right to have the basics of life untaxed by the government -- that's every man, woman, and child" then we accept that the government has the right to tax us on everything else.
Actually the government has the enumerated power to tax us on everything else, and that as well.
Constitution for the United States of America:
- Article VI: "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding."
- Article I Section 8: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises,
to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;
but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; "
- Article I Section 8: "To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof."
Show me where the right you describe has been defined?
By carving it out through the essential limitation on the authority to lay and collect taxes by the exercise of the right to influence and choose representation that one may exert in the political process as a constituent/voter.
McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)
- "The power of taxing the people and their property is essential to the very existence of government, and may be legitimately exercised on the objects to which it is applicable, to the utmost extent to which the Government may choose to carry it. The only security against the abuse of this power is found in the structure of the Government itself. In imposing a tax, the legislature acts upon its constituents. This is, in general, a sufficient security against erroneous and oppressive taxation."
"By accepting your reasoning, then we accept that the government owns all money and only allows us to keep what we want (or gives it back) based on what the government decides is "basic necessity" and what is an appropriate amount."
Actually, the Federal Reserve owns all the money (not the government or us) and we are only allowed to keep what they will allow (if you hoard too much they will consider you a threat to the economy, etc.).