Taxes and Libertarians I guess there is a fundamental disconnect between the Constitution and Libertarianism. While the Libertarian philosophy is perfectly free to oppose taxation in any form, the Libertarian Party can't pound their shoes in support of the Constitution AND oppose taxes. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution clearly gives Congress the power to impose taxes:
"The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States" I realize certain individuals will twist and turn some legalese mumbo- jumbo to try to show how what it says isn't what it says, but I am just a plain old feller who reads and understands plain old English. And I know what it says. And I know what it means. The 16th amendment is only a clarification or perhaps even a limitation on A1,S8. Since the law providing for taxation is the Constitution, statutes in the tax code are merely the means of executing the Constitution. Now, it is entirely disuseful to run around trying to claim the government has no authority to collect taxes, income or otherwise. That is patently false. It is much more useful to run around trying to minimize taxes by eliminating government spending on things not within the purview of the federal government as defined by the Constitution. It is this argument that will win support and votes for Libertarians inside or outside the LP. Is is this argument that requires a Libertarian to oppose federal financing of stem cell research. It is this this argument that requires a Libertarian to abolish all the social engineering laws passes in the last century and half. It is this argument that requires a Libertarian to abolish most of the cabinet departments. That is all for now. LIBERTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vjklander
