Previous posts has discussed the problems of the 16th amendment. Today’s post addresses mostly the 17th amendment. The 16th, 17th, and 18th amendments were passed during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. This weekend I committed to reading “American Progressivivism” by Ronand J. Pestritto and William J Atto and “Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism.” by Ronald J. Pestritto, associate professor of politics at the University of Dallas. After reading a few pages, I discovered my two day project would soon take many days. In the weeks ahead, while I internalize the thinking of Woodow Wilson, I will explain the three constitutional amendments he supported. The 16th amendment allowed government to tax income, the 17th amendment took away your states legislature voting on Senators and gave us direct, “democratic” popular election of Senators, and the 18th amendment prohibited alcohol consumption by individuals and manufacture of booze. Only the 18th amendment has been repealed, yet I think we would do well to repeal the 16th and 17th amendment to restore our freedom. Here are some videos which give background on our government and the 16th & 17th amendments.
The 16th Amendment gave the federal government the unlimited power to tax income. They institutionalized taking from the “rich” and giving to the poor” until all citizens are equally poor. An equal amount of revenue could be raised if the 16th amendment were repealed and a national consumption tax imposed, namely the FairTax.
The 17th Amendment removed the States right to check Federal government and their power to spend. A democratically elected Senator owes his allegiance directly to the to vote for bills they want, or to the wealthy corporate lobbyist who gave them cash for their campaign. Senators owe their allegiance to those interests for special protections in the law or special expenditures or deductions in tax law without regard for the “government’s” ability to spend that money. States once had the power to restrict federal spending when they had the power to appoint senators and say whether a senator maintained their appointment after their six year term expired. The national government began its exponential growth in power and influence over individuals and companies following the passage of the 17th Amendment, just as soon as there was no longer a competing interest that could stop it. Being a powerful Senator puts them on the gravy-train to personal wealth, witness the number of former Senators who become Washington lobbyists after they leave office.
- Senate Vacancies Raise Questions of Framers’ Intentions
By John W. Truslow III, Special to Roll Call - Democratizing the Constitution:
The Failure of the Seventeenth Amendment
