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To: donmeaker
One approach to corruption is to have power diffused

Your statement shows a lack of understanding of the republic and its founding. The entire purpose of the US Constitution was to diffuse centralized power. Don't get hung up on the BOR. Lincoln aside, the republic was dealt a death blow in the 1860's. Thirty years later the Progressives finished off the weakened republic( I blame Lincoln for that weakened condition) with the 16th and 17th Amendments. Those two amendments killed the republic.

Try "rubbing your nose" in that and "pretend" you understand what I am saying.

134 posted on 07/29/2013 4:08:40 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: central_va

The Consitution did indeed diffuse power, and federal powers were listed.

State powers were also limited, and to prevent military conflict between the states, (each state retained its militia) a means of resolution was provided using legal process, with the supreme court as original jurisdiction.

Citizens of one state are given rights when traveling through or doing business in other states in the Priviledges or Immunities clause. States rights to oppress local residents was further limited by the 14th Amendment.

The income tax amendment actually had minor effect. Income from wages, capital gains, or profits could already be taxed indirectly. Only income from rent of a property was considered not an indirect tax on behavior as it was thought to be too close to a direct tax on the value of the property, and so income on rent of property was not permitted to be taxed indirectly before the amendment. After the amendment, income from whatever source could be taxed indirectly. Other types of direct taxes (say a head tax) still retain the limitation as being proportional to census population. Since incomes and cost of living in different regions are different, head taxes are not used at the federal level.

The Election of Senators acted to diffuse power still more, removing authority to elect senators from the state legislature, and giving it to state voters. If diffuse power is a good thing, this was a good thing. Senator seats still remain hard to gerrymander, and still retain their long tenure in office.


135 posted on 07/29/2013 6:58:46 PM PDT by donmeaker (Blunderbuss: A short weapon, ... now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.)
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