Federal Income Tax
There have been some videos and things going around about federal income tax. People are claiming now that they have no legal obligation to pay it. The argument mostly revolves around the Sixteenth Amendment:
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 census or enumeration.
Some say that this amendment was never properly ratified, and since our federal income tax is unapportioned (not divided evenly among the people according to census), that would make the current tax unconstitutional.
It's fuzzy and highly disputable, but beyond that, it turns out that people have had difficulty finding any law that would require individuals to pay a personal federal income tax. There are clear tax laws for corporations or employees of foreign companies, and for local tax for example, but for most Americans, the law is unclear.
I'm not suggesting that you should stop paying your taxes. Even if there is no law, it's still a hassle that's likely to get you in a lot of trouble. Here's an article about a New Hampshire man and some followers who have armed themselves and are living in his house after he was convicted of tax evasion. Probably not the best response. But he does make a good case: "Show us the law and we'll pay immediately."
Income taxes or not, the thing that bothers me most about this is the way government bodies and officials respond to the question. They seem to think that the history of court rulings on the matter can stand in place of a law. That opens the door to the courts to enforce whatever they please without any law.
Of course, it's nothing new. It's not like this hole just opened up and will eat America or anything. Our laws are codified as a formality and a guideline, but the real decisions have always been based primarily on previous rulings.
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 census or enumeration.
Some say that this amendment was never properly ratified, and since our federal income tax is unapportioned (not divided evenly among the people according to census), that would make the current tax unconstitutional.
It's fuzzy and highly disputable, but beyond that, it turns out that people have had difficulty finding any law that would require individuals to pay a personal federal income tax. There are clear tax laws for corporations or employees of foreign companies, and for local tax for example, but for most Americans, the law is unclear.
I'm not suggesting that you should stop paying your taxes. Even if there is no law, it's still a hassle that's likely to get you in a lot of trouble. Here's an article about a New Hampshire man and some followers who have armed themselves and are living in his house after he was convicted of tax evasion. Probably not the best response. But he does make a good case: "Show us the law and we'll pay immediately."
Income taxes or not, the thing that bothers me most about this is the way government bodies and officials respond to the question. They seem to think that the history of court rulings on the matter can stand in place of a law. That opens the door to the courts to enforce whatever they please without any law.
Of course, it's nothing new. It's not like this hole just opened up and will eat America or anything. Our laws are codified as a formality and a guideline, but the real decisions have always been based primarily on previous rulings.