Sweet Little Sixteen Taxes

"Sweet Little Sixteen"                                                May 6, 1996



I recently read an essay by Walter Williams on taxes,

a subject near and dear to all Americans who believe

they pay too much of their income to our government.

Dr. Williams noted that today, May 6th, the 127th day

of the year, the average taxpayer will have finally paid

his local, state and federal taxes.



The article describes the relationship between taxes and freedom. Dr. Williams draws a close connection between

these two, not so obvious, elements of a civilized society.

The connection occurred with the ratification of the 16th Amendment, giving Congress the power to tax our income.



Dr. Williams concludes that with the 16th Amendment a master-slave relationship was created that enslaved

citizens to a Congress that determined who will pay

and how much will be paid to the Federal government.

Additionally, the 16th Amendment allows Congress to

not be accountable for financial responsibility that

should come with the taxing power they have.



To curb the excesses of a Congress and Administration that continually increase our debt we, the taxpayer, must ACT.

We must take responsibility for the financing of government, and not leave it in the hands of people who spend their career seizing our money, then retire, and leave a national debt to our children and our children's children.



We must petition Congress to give all taxing authority

to the citizens who pay them, not legislators who impose taxes WITHOUT our consent. Rather than listen to arguments of why taxes need to be increased and which group of Americans should pay them WE need to vote on tax

referendums as the need exists.



This single change will immediately return the power to where it belongs. It will make politicians do what they

are most skilled at, make a persuasive case to support

their viewpoint. And the public, if convinced, will

provide the additional funds.



Going from the 16th Amendment, which is a subtle effort

to keep citizens enslaved, to REAL accountability by

giving it to the people who pay the taxes, will not be

easy. But a grassroots effort is long overdue.



Since the 16th Amendment was adopted the United States

has accumulated over $5 TRILLION in debt. Need we see

any more evidence that something is very wrong and

the public should be responsible for the amount of

money we are taxed and how it should be spent.



                        Anthony J. Bruno