Should there be Constitutional controls on Congress' power to Tax?

Question

Currently the 16th Amendment gives Congress unlimited powers to tax:

"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 censur or enumerationn".

Michelle:

The democrats once gave us 90% tax brackets. That means 90% to the Federal government and 10% for the wage earner.

The Only Beldin:

Enlighten me, what Constitutional controls are there on Congress' power to tax.

Wrenchintheworks:

So you want to trust the Congress to do the right thing. Boy are you naive.

Golly, everyone seems to trust Congress. The founding fathers wanted controls, ie the census. No wonder we are in such dire straights.

Answer 1

the 16th Amendment was never truly ratified, hence the long debate and many supreme court decisions, the fallacy of this provision is that it has never been approved. Don't believe me? research it... The income Tax is illegal,

Answer 2

Indeed, "the power to tax is the power to destroy."
However, because of our setup of government, Constitutional controls are unneccesary. It is unlikely that extreme taxes would gain enough support in Congress, as many wish to be reelected, and if the American people were displeased with the taxations, they would elect more fiscally conservative reps next time.

Answer 3

Fine, than we should have every road be a toll road. After all without enough taxes to pay for paving and maintance we have to pay for it somehow.

Of course the electric lights you see along the highway for your safety would be added to that toll and so to go visit grandma in another state may cost 4 times as much as it does now.

Maybe we should pay for fire or police protection. If something happens they send you a bill. Someone has to pay for it. Since there are no taxes you'll get a bill for a couple hundred thousand dollars.

To regulate the safety of foods and drugs you consume we have the FDA paid with tax money. Maybe there should be an extra charge on each apple you buy or the steak you get for the BBQ. Somebody has to pay for your food safety or don't you care about whether your food and drugs are safe?

No, if we have to go to war, since no one wants to pay taxes. are you willing to volunteer, free of charge to go duke it out with the enemy. I say duke it out because there would be no tax money to buy you equipment or a weapon. A rag tag bunch of guys with a hodge podge of weapons from knives to some funky old rifle. I can see it now. How soon will our country be invaded?

Of course without taxes you would be willing to pay for the schooling of your children in full. All supplies, teacher etc.

So you don't like paying taxes. Neither do I but they are necessary for us to live the good life we have.

Answer 4

The people are suppose to be the limitation to Congress's power to tax. Through elections or even revolutions.

Answer 5

Elect legislators that will spend our tax dollars responsibly.
Hands off the Constitution.

Answer 6

There are Constitutional limits on Congress already; since they ignore those routinely, what makes you think they'll abide by a limit on their taxation power?

Answer 7

You do recognize that the more money one pays in taxes the more benefits one gets back (well maybe unless the gov't has spent $400 billion in taxpayers money on a war).

Answer 8

I have always wondered why this isn't an agenda item for conservatives.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

Yes ...not that it would do any good. Thanks to Bush though my taxes have been reduced.