Actually, it was a bit of both. If you go back to one of the earliest threads, there is an explanation of the messy issue of money. Brutally put, there was no money that anyone would trust. Raising taxes on the people was a no-no considering that a war had just been fought on the subject, so states began taxing citizens of other states by import duty. It was a clever way of evading the issue, but it almost tore the country apart.
Add to this the fact that some states engaged in partial or total repudiation of their debts. Bottom line: the situation was a mess, and the confederation government didn't have the power to address it.
...when backed to the wall, man will do what man needs to do to survive.
That is true, and yesterday's events in Congress make me think the American people are going to be put to that test within a year's time.
the pressure of the state taxation and the federal pressure will surely bring something to bear soon... perhaps not a year, but soon... as the taxes ratchet up on the majority of the people...
look also for concerns from state gov’ts that know not how to cut spending and increase spending more and more...
but hamilton’s accusation of shay as a great debtor is perhaps just a passing of the buck, considering the country was so far in debt too.
i miss the constitutionality of each state being responsible for the spending deficit based on population... if we’re spending more than we take in... because our reps are not responsible... the states need to fork it up.
t