Thread: FairTax and Trade

Originally Posted by johnwk

With regard to taxation, and in particular direct taxation and apportionment,

Two different tax methods!

Originally Posted by johnwk

the Founder's principal behind the requirement of apportioning direct taxes is as valid today as when the rule was put into our Constitution

The "principal", yes! It is the method I disagree with!

Originally Posted by johnwk

it prevents government force being used to impose unequal taxation whenever a direct tax is used.

"Whenever"? When is it not being used today?

Originally Posted by johnwk

And by tying the rule of apportionment to both direct taxation

"Apportionment" is one type of taxation. You conflate Direct Taxation with it to justify your argument.

Originally Posted by johnwk

and representation, a barrier is erected preventing the states from misrepresenting the size of their population in order to enlarge their representation in Congress as explain by Hamilton:

But the Constitution did not address that. Article 1, Section 2 contains:

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all ther Persons.

Illegal aliens are "free persons" by this description. So the number of representatives can be based on false data! And, of course, it did not count slaves or Indians. It wasn't the intent of the Founders, but that is my point, neither is the result of the tax method you advocate!

Originally Posted by johnwk

Would they be so inclined to carry on this way if they had to pay an apportioned share of the tab whenever Congress spent more than is brought in from imposts, duties and internal excise taxes on articles of consumption?

There's the problem! Congress spending more than the government takes in. California is doing the same thing. And since they can't print money to cover it, they raise taxes...on everything!

Originally Posted by johnwk

And that is why socialists hate with a passion the rule of apportionment being applied to direct taxation

So now you claim to be able to read the mind of everybody else?