Posted on 01/19/2007 6:13:29 AM PST by PissAndVinegar
That's the usual argument. The problem is twofold:
1. The 16th Amendment was ratified. Even if you assume that the allegedly defective ratifications were actually defective--which is unlikely at best--there were more than enough states that actually did ratify the amendment. (The alleged defects would make ANY constitutional amendment drafted before the days of the Xerox machine unratified, including the Bill of Rights.)
2. The courrts have consistently held that whether or not a constitutional amendment has been ratified is for the Congress and state legislatures to decide, not the courts. And I pray that it never does come under the courts--because if you thought that 5 guys in robes deciding what the Constitution means is bad, wait until you get 5 guys in robes deciding what was or wasn't actually in the Constitution in the first place.
I'm confused. Where they found guilty of not paying taxes or of paying their mortgage with $700 postal money orders? I believe you cannot get a USPS MO for over $700 so how were they intending to avoid the $3000 federal reporting limit? Isn't still legal to pay your bills with Money Orders?
Recognition of taxation was something the Founding Fathers considered. Merely the mechanism of such has changed.
While I'll agree the federal gov't has far overstepped it's bounds as far as services to the citizens goes, you can't simply refuse to pay but rather exercise your rights under the First Amendment for a redress of grievances. If you lose, tough teat. Move.
Both. They were using the money orders to structure their mortgage payments (sending in several money orders for one payment) to avoid transaction reporting, which would lead to questions as to where the hell they got the money in the first place, as they were evading taxes the entire time.
I believe you cannot get a USPS MO for over $700 so how were they intending to avoid the $3000 federal reporting limit?
By buying several money orders in rapid succession with the intent of avoiding the reporting requirements.
Isn't still legal to pay your bills with Money Orders?
Yes, it's legal. It is illegal, however, to engage in money laundering and tax evasion.
Its not the taxation that is the issue...its the illegal manner in which the government operates. As the great Calvin Coolidge once said "Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery."
Seek a redress of grievances? Yep...I should just beg my Massa to let me keep a little more of my money because he's spending most of it illegally. I'm sure he'll listen
I don't think I'll move...my family has been in America since 1630. I don't think my family will be run out of America by enemies of the Constitution...maybe they should be forced to leave instead
I believe the basic deal pretty much goes like this:
You give FedGov 40%+ of your money, and they agree not to kill you.
Unless they decide to anyway because it suits their agenda.
Some people just need a 'whole-lot-of-killin'. :-)
"I don't mind spending money on defense or highway infrastructure, but a lot of this spending should be criminal."
I want police & fire. I want a strong military. I want clean water in town if I need a drink (I have a well out here on the farm.) I want the potholes filled in on the roads. I want my trash picked up on time...and I'm sick of all these 'Monday Holidays' that screw up pick up times!
Other than that, I can't think of anything else I should be paying for... :)
Actually sounds quite American. Or at least it used to.
"Other than that, I can't think of anything else I should be paying for... :)"
What? You object to paying farm subsidies to disabled, Lesbian, Ferret farmers? TAXPROTESTER!
LOL! Yep. Call me 'unpatriotic,' but paying for other womens abortions bugs the cr@p outta me, too. Go figure! ;)
Can't we expect plenty more showdowns like this as taxes increase? Our $9 trillion dollar national debt, documented here:
http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny.htm
already gives us a "public debt" of nearly 70% of our nation's GDP as this documents:
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html
In contrast, Mexico's percentage is merely 18% and their GDP per capita is only 4 times lower (and it's much cheaper to live there).
Worse still, baby boomers begin retiring next year in the USA (while other countries in the hemisphere have much younger populations and in some cases lower taxes).
Did a war perhaps exempt the tax-leeching feds somehow from having to get such full ratification?
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
...He's doing it for the CHILDREN!!!
Don't you mean, LoserTAXian?
Are you seriously arguing that if you do not personally agree to extant laws, those laws are null and void in your case?
Money laundering is any effort to conceal income. The drug cartels are simply the most notorious practitioners of it.
No...that statement was in response to the statement above that Brown was not "holding up his end of the deal"...as if he and the feds reached some deal
But, lets be accurate. Any tax on any American's property by the feds to be redistributed to another American is legalized plunder...nothing more. Most of the federal budget is simply legally sanctioned theft...the government takes money from masses of unorganized citzens and gives it to other citizens...after it skims off some for itself. That's what Social Security is. That's what Medicare is. That's what Medicaid is. That's what AFDC is. That's what that $100 billion+ corporate welfare system is...with all of its government grants, subsidies, contracts, cut rate insurance, loans, and loan guarantees.
Did you know more than 50 million Americans will have negative federal income tax liability this year? That is...they will just receive money this year from the feds...or, more accurately, from you and me. Does this make you angry? It should. Not only are the feds taking food out of the mouths of your family...it is obvious that this redistribution of your money is designed only to give to those who help keep the elected officials and fedeeal bureaucracy in place
The federal tax laws are null and void in everyone's case...and the fact that the government can intimidate and force people into turning their property over makes it no more moral or legitimate than if a mob on the street forced you to turn over your money.
I fear most Americans today no longer understand this. We in America live in a Republic...not a democracy. Two quotes by Ben Franklin may illustrate the difference for you
When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.
--Benjamin Franklin
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch
--Benjamin Franklin
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