Blue Republican asks for support for new 28th Amendment

[robink]

My proposed 28th Amendment to the United States' Constitution:

"No tax of any kind, under any name, shall be raised against the lack of any activity, including but not limited to social, political or economic activity, for any purpose whatsoever."

This is obviously inspired by the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled that the penalty for not purchasing health insurance is a tax. Imagine how much money the government could raise through just a tiny tax on all the things you DON'T do in a day...

If enough people rally behind this idea, I'll push it on the HuffPo.

-Blue Republican

 

[sailingaway]

The Constitution already forbids this, doesn't it? No direct tax, amended only for the income tax, and this isn't income? Not to mention all the other reasons the Court ignored. Pass it, fine, but if the Court is willing to find this finding they did, I think it is pretty clear they couldn't care less what it says, they are just going to manufacture reasons to do what they want. I can't tell you how discouraged I am about this ruling. I had no idea I still had faith in the SCOTUS until I realized I had lost it.

 

[Keith and stuff]

I have no faith in the federal government. I have no faith in any federal amendment. I have no interest in helping pass this nor do I think it will do much. IMO, the main reason for pro-liberty political activists to be involved in federal politics is to wake people up. Time is far better spent helping pro-liberty Republicans and Democrats elected to state and local offices.

 

[sailingaway]

I have no faith in the federal government. I have no faith in any federal amendment. I have no interest in helping pass this nor do I think it will do much. IMO, the main reason for pro-liberty political activists to be involved in federal politics is to wake people up. Time is far better spent helping pro-liberty Republicans and Democrats elected to state and local offices.

But Robin putting out this article helps people at least focus on one aspect of the problem. I think the article is a fine idea, but frankly people here would make it a lot broader. My real sense of tragedy is that we aren't following the Constitution we already have.

 

[Carehn]

How about this.

'Congress shall pass no law or tax infringing upon the right of production and trade.'

If we had a government that followed the constitution this one sentence would solve all problems.

 

[SilenceDewgooder]

the good part about the amendment process is that it does not require a signature from the President nor can he/she veto it. The painful part is getting 2/3rds of Congress to agree and then having 38 states to ratify it. Since this is not a repeal of the 16th amendment, why not amend the 16th. This has no precedent, but I did not read where an amendment could not be amended. The closest precedent I know of is the 18th and 21st, prohibition. But the 21st repealed the 18th.

As an individual, I imagine you are in high favor of this. Therefore, do what you feel is right. If people feel strongly about this, you will have your support, if people don't, at least you know you it was the right thing for you to do.

 

[fisharmor]

This is the only 28th amendment I would support:

1) All federal law is hereby repealed.
2) All military forces maintained by the federal government are hereby disbanded. In times when there is no active declaration of war, the United States shall not maintain standing armed forces.
3) All federal agencies with any law enforcement power whatever are hereby disbanded.
4) The 16th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
5) The 17th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
6) The US Dollar shall revert to its definition under the 1792 Coinage Act. Submitting legislation to change this shall constitute treason against the United States.
7) Submitting legislation to outlaw competing currencies shall constitute treason against the United States.
8) Submitting legislation with more than one subject shall constitute treason against the United States.
9) Submitting legislation to restrict ownership of small arms shall constitute treason against the United States.
10) No elected official within the United States shall serve more than one term.


That would be a start.

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

My constitutional amendment:

All taxation is voluntary.



After that, the govt monopoly is broken and freedom would be restored.

 

[Carehn]

This is the only 28th amendment I would support:

1) All federal law is hereby repealed.
2) All military forces maintained by the federal government are hereby disbanded. In times when there is no active declaration of war, the United States shall not maintain standing armed forces.
3) All federal agencies with any law enforcement power whatever are hereby disbanded.
4) The 16th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
5) The 17th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
6) The US Dollar shall revert to its definition under the 1792 Coinage Act. Submitting legislation to change this shall constitute treason against the United States.
7) Submitting legislation to outlaw competing currencies shall constitute treason against the United States.
8) Submitting legislation with more than one subject shall constitute treason against the United States.
9) Submitting legislation to restrict ownership of small arms shall constitute treason against the United States.
10) No elected official within the United States shall serve more than one term.


That would be a start.

This would be known as the 'Awesome Amendment'

 

[jkr]

This is the only 28th amendment I would support:

1) All federal law is hereby repealed.
2) All military forces maintained by the federal government are hereby disbanded. In times when there is no active declaration of war, the United States shall not maintain standing armed forces.
3) All federal agencies with any law enforcement power whatever are hereby disbanded.
4) The 16th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
5) The 17th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
6) The US Dollar shall revert to its definition under the 1792 Coinage Act. Submitting legislation to change this shall constitute treason against the United States.
7) Submitting legislation to outlaw competing currencies shall constitute treason against the United States.
8) Submitting legislation with more than one subject shall constitute treason against the United States.
9) Submitting legislation to restrict ownership of small arms shall constitute treason against the United States.
10) No elected official within the United States shall serve more than one term.


That would be a start.

YOU!

your one of US!

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

This is the only 28th amendment I would support:

1) All federal law is hereby repealed.
2) All military forces maintained by the federal government are hereby disbanded. In times when there is no active declaration of war, the United States shall not maintain standing armed forces.
3) All federal agencies with any law enforcement power whatever are hereby disbanded.
4) The 16th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
5) The 17th Amendment to this constitution is hereby repealed.
6) The US Dollar shall revert to its definition under the 1792 Coinage Act. Submitting legislation to change this shall constitute treason against the United States.
7) Submitting legislation to outlaw competing currencies shall constitute treason against the United States.
8) Submitting legislation with more than one subject shall constitute treason against the United States.
9) Submitting legislation to restrict ownership of small arms shall constitute treason against the United States.
10) No elected official within the United States shall serve more than one term.


That would be a start.

My constitutional amendment:

All taxation is voluntary.



After that, the govt monopoly is broken and freedom would be restored.

Interesting contrast in how to approach the problem of an enormous and intrusive federal govt.

Try to tackle each intrusion one by one?
Or
Hack the root?

 

[Endthefednow]

How about this "Any and all Government officials shall Follow the Constitution"

At this point I think many don`t care about the document as per the actions of not just Obama but just look back at what Clinton,Bush and now the judges who just do not follow the constitution.

 

[mport1]

How about "No taxes should be raised for any purpose" and just leave it at that?

 

[IDefendThePlatform]

My constitutional amendment:

All taxation is voluntary.



After that, the govt monopoly is broken and freedom would be restored.

How about "No taxes should be raised for any purpose" and just leave it at that?

I feel like we've said basically the same thing except I think the voluntary taxation phrasing makes it an easier sell.

We're not eliminating government or even taxes, just recognizing that it's wrong to force people to pay, so they sshould at least be allowed a choice.

Of course, the end result would be the same...


Really this ruling is a big opportunity. The supreme court says that the individual mandate is just a tax, so it shouldn't be hard to channell the anti-individual mandate anger into anti-taxation anger.
Ron Paul kind of did this with his statement yesterday saying "virtually everything government does is a mandate."


Would love to see a Jack Hunter video on this.

 

[SilenceDewgooder]

How about this "Any and all Government officials shall Follow the Constitution"

At this point I think many don`t care about the document as per the actions of not just Obama but just look back at what Clinton,Bush and now the judges who just do not follow the constitution.

I doubt this will appease you, but violating the oath of office is a federal crime

 

[DamianTV]

The Constitution already forbids this, doesn't it? No direct tax, amended only for the income tax, and this isn't income? Not to mention all the other reasons the Court ignored. Pass it, fine, but if the Court is willing to find this finding they did, I think it is pretty clear they couldn't care less what it says, they are just going to manufacture reasons to do what they want. I can't tell you how discouraged I am about this ruling. I had no idea I still had faith in the SCOTUS until I realized I had lost it.

True, but not like they follow the constitution anyway. Income Tax is a Direct Apportioned Tax that the Constitution clearly prohibits, and not even clearly defined as everyone is required to pay income tax. But it is enforced as if it were actually on the books AND the Constitution is ingnored anyway.

 

[SilenceDewgooder]

True, but not like they follow the constitution anyway. Income Tax is a Direct Apportioned Tax that the Constitution clearly prohibits, and not even clearly defined as everyone is required to pay income tax. But it is enforced as if it were actually on the books AND the Constitution is ingnored anyway.

Article I, Section 9, Clause 4:

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

16th Amendment: 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. Ratified on February 3, 1913

 

[Feelgood]

The Constitution already forbids this, doesn't it? No direct tax, amended only for the income tax, and this isn't income? Not to mention all the other reasons the Court ignored. Pass it, fine, but if the Court is willing to find this finding they did, I think it is pretty clear they couldn't care less what it says, they are just going to manufacture reasons to do what they want. I can't tell you how discouraged I am about this ruling. I had no idea I still had faith in the SCOTUS until I realized I had lost it.

The Constitution was never amended for the income tax. The Sixteenth amendment was never properly ratified. Woodrow Wilson just lied to the American people claiming it had been, and the sheep just accepted it as fact.

The Supreme court has also ruled repeatedly that the Sixteenth amendment has given congress "no new taxing power".

http://llstuler.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/the-constitutionthe-supreme-court-the-16th-amendment/

 

[harikaried]

No direct tax, amended only for the income tax, and this isn't income?

Couldn't the tax be just bundled into the other taxes section that appear on the IRS 1040 form? Conceptually it's not that much different than, say.. the mortgage interest deduction where the federal government tries to control behavior by giving money back to homeowners. In this case, the federal government is controlling health insurance behavior with a negative deduction.

 

[angelatc]

the good part about the amendment process is that it does not require a signature from the President nor can he/she veto it. The painful part is getting 2/3rds of Congress to agree and then having 38 states to ratify it.

Congress doesn't have to agree. They just have to call conventions if 2/3rds of the states request it. Then either 3/4 of the state legislatures have to approve it, or 3/4 of ratifying conventions held in each state have to ratify it.