Repealing income tax to restore the public

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

As the Philadelphia Convention was ending in 1787, a delegate from Virginia named George Mason told the convention: “Are we so naïve that we believe a government that becomes a tyranny will propose the right kind of amendments to restrain its tyranny?” It was Mason’s words that compelled the delegates at the convention to create a second mechanism for amending the Constitution, which has become known as the Convention of States.

Two hundred thirty-four years later, our republic has been manipulated by those within our institutions to satisfy their own interests at the expense of the American people. As each day passes, they have taken away more of our liberties in the name of paternalism and idealism, which has led to further the federal government’s soft despotism.

While all hope seems fleeting, a few amendments could potentially restore our republic, including an imposition of term limits, a balanced budget amendment and a repeal of the progressive income tax.

An amendment for term limits for U.S. senators and representatives is one of the first steps in restoring our republic. Implementing term limits has been widely supported by both sides of the aisle. A national poll from McLaughlin & Associates showed 82 percent of Americans support term limits: 89 percent from Republicans, 83 percent from Independents and 76 percent from Democrats.

Term limits will force congressional officeholders to focus on issues due to time constraints, thus putting more pressure to get things done in a shorter time frame. This amendment would create fewer career politicians, meaning figures like Nancy Pelosi, Mitt Romney and others would have to give up power, leading to more competition and choices for voters in the future.

Additionally, a balanced budget amendment would likely appear in a Convention of States. According to the U.S. Treasury, the current national debt is $28.8 trillion with a $3 trillion-deficit spending, which has led to much fear over the state of the American economy. Support for a balanced budget amendment has come from notable figures such as Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and others.

A balanced budget amendment would limit federal spending by requiring the federal budget to equal the tax revenue received from taxpayers while adding a provision for emergency situations. This is key for our nation to restore our republic by being committed to financial responsibility.

Finally, an amendment to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment is another vital issue that a Convention of States would observe. The Sixteenth Amendment, now known as the progressive tax, allowed the federal government to tax people based on income.

Today, Americans have become harassed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which has become an apparatus for political intimidation and tyrannizing the people. While the current highest tax bracket is 37 percent, progressives have proposed raising it to between 77 and 91 percent, which would stop citizens from becoming more productive and innovative and incentivize them to have less income to provide for their families.

By repealing the Sixteenth Amendment, we can rid ourselves of the progressive income tax and replace it with a fair taxation system such as a low sales tax or a flat tax rate, thus putting less finan cial stress on Americans and abolishing the IRS.

While debates continue over what amendments will be presented and which are imperative, the necessity for structural change is apparent. We can only enact amendments like those men- tioned if we, the people, can get a Convention of States. We must honor Mason’s words by seeking restoration by reformation.