[HMBillson]

You have nailed it!

Abolish the income tax, rein the federal government back into the restraints of the Constitution, seat Senators through the respective state legislatures and never let the federal government out of that box again!

[PapaBear3625]

It was the combination of the 16th and 17th Amendments that broke the chains on the federal government. The 16th:

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.

allowed the feds to tax individuals directly, without having to go thru the states.

The 17th, direct election of Senators (who were previously appointed by the state legislatures), took away the ability of the state legislators to stop federal encroachments on their power.

Do you think a Senate, appointed by state legislators, is going to allow unnecessary budget items that have to be paid for by the states, from out of STATE revenue?