[The Pack Knight]

At 62 through 65, Madison points to the fine results of people electing officeholders who are full of wisdom. What happens when people elect officeholders whose job is to divide up the money pie so as to distribute it to the voters?

I think Madison's response to this would be that the proposed Constitution did not permit Congress to divvy up and distribute federal monies to the voters. His view of the Taxing and Spending Clause was that the Congress's taxing and spending power was limited to spending in support of Congress's other enumerated powers and to fulfill the responsibilities those powers entailed.

Unfortunately for our republic, Hamilton's more plenipotentiary view of the Taxing and Spending Clause has prevailed.

[mc5cents]

I can’t remember the last time I saw plenipotentiary used in a sentence. Thanks.