When the founding fathers scribed the words We the People to begin the Constitution, it symbolized where the power of America lay. The Constitution went on to limit the power of the federal government, not only through checks and balances, but also through the language of enumeration. Perhaps one of the most important limitations placed on government at the time was the limitation of taxation. Since then though, We the People have removed this limitation; and by doing so, have betrayed ourselves.
I love reading the Constitution. It is one of my favorite ways to pass the time. Yet, every time I arrive at the 16th Amendment, I almost have to stop. I’m perplexed as to why on earth We the People of this nation would allow politicians of all people the right to direct taxation. The language of the text is enough in itself to scare me.
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.
Basically, it says without rhyme or reason, Congress can withdraw an unlimited amount of money from the pockets of We the People; add to that, they don’t even have to ask.
What is important to realize is the problem this amendment has caused. I am of the belief that givign our congressmen and women access to unlimited funds provides them with the belief they have access to unlimited spending.
As proof, realize that in the 90 plus years since the passage of the Amendment, our nation has racked up trillions of dollars in debt; and our nation has developed an oppressive tax system that makes We the People the second most taxed people in the world. This amendment has led to a system that has generated revenue beyond imagine – all of it, and then some, spent.
There is no better way to say this, but money burns a hole in the pockets of government. For however long We the People continue to provide, the government will continue to take. This attitude of government take all has led to our spending crisis, and if any solution is to be derived, it will not come from Washington. For the greatest strengths and the greatest solutions of America have never come from Washington, but they always been products of We the People.
We the People have an obligation to those who are set to follow behind us. We the People have an obligation to stop this nonsense, stop this irresponsible spending, and to stop this ludicrous system of taxation. We the People need to take back our pocketbooks; We the People need to close the vaults; We the People need to tighten the purse-strings once and for all. It starts by repealing the 16th Amendment.
