If the Income Tax Were Abolished Would You Protest? (unemployment, salaries, ethic)

[Kkaos2]

I'd like to see a fair tax but I don't think it will ever happen. We'd have to get term limits first. As it is, there's too much money and influence invested in the current system to get any significant reform. Special interests don't want to see their loopholes disappear. Tax preparation is an entire industry unto itself. The IRS is a massive force in the federal bureaucracy. No matter how inefficient and burdensome the tax code is, it's not going to change as long as so many peoples' self interest is served by preserving it the way it is. Politicians may talk about supporting a fair or flat tax system to the general public but there's too much pressure against it from special interests to actually vote one in.

[florida.bob]

Absolutely yes! It would be complete irresponsibility to eliminate income taxes.

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by Kkaos2

I'd like to see a fair tax but I don't think it will ever happen. We'd have to get term limits first. As it is, there's too much money and influence invested in the current system to get any significant reform. Special interests don't want to see their loopholes disappear. Tax preparation is an entire industry unto itself. The IRS is a massive force in the federal bureaucracy. No matter how inefficient and burdensome the tax code is, it's not going to change as long as so many peoples' self interest is served by preserving it the way it is. Politicians may talk about supporting a fair or flat tax system to the general public but there's too much pressure against it from special interests to actually vote one in.

I agree....the only way to be fair to all Americans is a flat % tax.

It'll never happen though for all the reasons you have already mentioned.

[jackmccullough]

Only an idiot would be in favor of abolishing the federal income tax, and hiding Ron Paul spam in your original post does nothing to enhance your credibility.

[walidm]

I'd want to examine the plan for the alternative revenue stream.

[carterstamp]

I'm for the fair tax, a Federal Sales tax, wipe out income tax altogether, that way everyone pays.

[alphamale]

Income tax is not the problem, and is perfectly Constitutional.

Article I Section 8 Paragraph 1:
“The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;


And, of course, the 16th amendment....


The 16th Amendment
(30 words that changed the course of our history):
“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.”


Spending, on the other hand, is limited by the enumerated powers.


EXECUTIVE POWERS The powers of the Presidency follow:
*Execute Federal Laws
*Serve as commander in Chief
*Commission U.S. military officers.
*Conduct foreign affairs
*Grant reprieves and pardons to Federal Offenders
*Veto Bills
*Convene and/or adjourn sessions of Congress under extraordinary circumstances.
*Make treaties (Subject to Senate confirmation)
*Temporarily fill vacancies that may occur during the recess of the Senate.
*Appoint Supreme Court justices and other Federal judges (Subject to Senate confirmation)
*Report to Congress on the State of the Nation.
*Recomend measures for the Congress to consider.

Many, but not all, powers of Congress are contained in Article I, Section 8. The full list, including the law-making powers follows: *Levy Taxes
*Borrow money on the credit of the United States.
*Spend when authorized by an approriations bill
*Pay the Federal debt
*Constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court
*Declare War
*Raise armies, a navy, and provide for the common defense
*Introduce constitutional amendments and choose the mode of ratification
*Call a Constitutional Convention on the application of two-thirds of the States
*Regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
*Coin Money
*Standardize the value of currency
*Regulate copyrights and patents
*Establish federal courts lower than the Supreme Court.
*Limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Federal Courts including the Supreme Court.
*Standardize weights and measures.
*Establish uniform times for elections.
*Control the Postal System
*Establish laws governing citizenship
*Make its own rules and discipline its own members .
*Provide for the punishment of counterfeiting, piracy, treason and other Federal Crimes.
*Exercise exclusive jurisdiction over the District of Columbia
*Establish Bankruptcy laws
*Override presidential vetoes.
*Oversee all Federal property and possesions
*Fill a vacancy in the presidency in cases of death or inability
* Receive and count electoral votes for the Presidency
*Keep and publish a journal of its proceedings
*Conduct a census every ten years.
*Approve treaties, cabinet level appointments, and appointments to the Supreme Court (Senate only).
*Impeach (House only) and try (Senate only) federal officers.
*Initiate all bills for raising revenue (House only).

JUDICIAL POWERS The power of the Federal Judiciary is limited to judging:
*All cases arising under the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties
*All cases affecting ambassadors; other public ministries, and consuls
*All cases of Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;
*Controversies to which the U.S. is a party; and
*Controversies between two or more states, a state and the citizen of another states citizens of different states and citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states.
(In addition, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to preside at the Senate Trial of an impeached president.
The Constitution only established a Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to preside at the Senate Trail of an impeached President.
The Constitution only established a Supreme Court and granted to Congress the power to establish lower federal courts.(Article II Section I).
Thus Congress possesses the power to abolish all Federal Courts except the Supreme Court. Congress can also limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court itself (see Article II Section II). And, of course, Congress can also impeach Federal judges, who are to serve only during times of good behavior. The limited powers of the Federal Judiciary and the checks that Congress has over it the weakest of the three branches of government.
Under our system of government, the federal government not execute any non-enumerated power , no matter how desirable, unless the power in question is first granted to the Federal Government through the Amendment process(Article V). To do so without a constitutional amendment is usurpation.States may exercise numerous powers not listed above although the particulars vary from one state to the next depending on the state constitution.

[waterboy7375]

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

Well that would greatly depend on what it was replaced with, now wouldn't it?

Dumb question "Do you like income tax?" Who in their right mind would say yes?

Now, asking "Do you like this program, and that program, and do you think providing this government service at the current levels?" Those are much more relevant questions. And, if you tell the person they are paid for by income tax, well, it might change someones mind.

See how these whole "yes or no" questions really mislead people?

I personally favor 1 federal flat tax. Any income over 40,000 dollars gets taxed at the exact same tax rate, 0 corporate taxes.

If the government spends more money, fine, but tell the American people how much you plan on raising their taxes to do it.

I could go along with that. Maybe change the bottom to $20k.

[ottomobeale]

>We just need more equitable taxation. The rich pay too much.<

Er. just wow. And the poor dont pay enough?

I find it odd how many people forget about payroll taxes.

[gwynedd1]

Originally Posted by TrapperJohn

Powers not granted to the Feds are reserved by the states. So no federal tax, but the states would get ya. Some worse than others.

I wouldn't protest, but it's really not practical to think we can have zero taxation. We just need more equitable taxation. The rich pay too much.

Too little actually.