[Jim Robinson]

"If I had my drothers, the tax system would probably be totally reversed -- with the bulk of revenues staying in the local area where I, the citizen, could decide its use, and the smallest portion going to the feds to defend the nation and manage the federal courts."

Amen. And repealing the 16th and 17th amendments would go far toward dismantling the federal beast and restoring Constitutionally limited government. And couple that with abolishing all the socialist hogwash that has been enacted via stretching the "General Welfare" and "Commerce" clauses waaay beyond any semblance of original intent.

[monkeyshine]

And repealing the 16th and 17th amendments would go far toward dismantling the federal beast and restoring Constitutionally limited government.

Absolutely. The 17th Amendment gutted the rights of states, but more importantly it stripped the people of their political power and put it into the hands of national political parties.

The 16th Amendment is exactly what the framers sought to avoid. The 16th Amendment has given the federal government nearly unbridled power over the people, and has been abused as a tool to override the Bill of Rights.