Taxes

Sorry I've been away for a while. I was a little out of sorts, but don't worry; it wasn't cholera (or hepatitis). Lately, since it is that time of year again, I've been thinking about the sixteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States. The debates (back in 1913) about whether taxing income was constitutional seem pretty crazy. Today we're debating whether the president has the right to listen to your phone calls and emails without a warrant (he doesn't), but what if income tax was unconstitutional? I'm guessing that they would still find some way to come up with the money for the bogus missile defense system to protect us from the Soviet Union. Why is it that only people who have jobs have to pay taxes? Why is it that only people with money have to pay taxes? If we got rid of all the schools, do you really think that kids would stop learning? I don't think you could kill the American spirit that easily. I guess we need an amendment that gives the president the power to do anything he wants. That would solve everything, right?

(Proposed) Amendment XXVIII: The President shall be able to create, conduct or oversee any program that he sees fit as long as it is described or defined as an issue related or remotely tied to national security.

Wouldn't it be easier if we just took the national debt (~$9 Trillion) divided it equally into every American living today and if they couldn't pay it ($30,000 each), just put it on their credit card, or give them a low interest student loan (8.5%), or maybe even an interest only home equity line of credit for the amount. This would reduce the number of people just having kids to get that tax credit. A household of five would have $150,000 to pay (this year). With kids you would be allowed to defer payment (not interest) until they are old enough to give them incentive to get a job (when they're fourteen). You can tell your child, "If you wait until you're out of college, this thirty grand will turn into sixty grand of debt. Do you really want to be saddled with that burden before you even get a house or start a family? Start paying it down now by working at McDonald's. It's the American way."