Friday, June 29, 2012

sophistry thy name is Roberts

The distinction between a fine and a tax compelling an act is absurd. Only a sophist of great intellectul dishonesty could make the argument. "The power to tax is the power to destroy" it makes no difference to the individual who is affected if he pays a penalty or a tax. Ths false dichotomy is a surrender of individual rights. Congress now has the power , approved by the court to force a citizen to perform an act merely by threatening to tax non-perfomance. The IRS will become the policeman of the administration. If the congress wishes they could force purchase of a GM automobile merely by putting an exorbitant tax on citizens who refuse. Of course no Congress would do such a thing, I hope

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Imperial Presidency

Emperors Old Clothes

Richard Nixon was accused of trying to impose an imperial presidency. Richard Nixon was a piker compared to President Obama . Nixon only tried to thwart the legislative branch by not spending all the money they approved.. President Obama simply ignores the law. The Defense Of Marriage Act, the Nochild Left Behind, The immigration laws, and it seems anything he can subvert by presidential refusal to carry out the intent of congress. I may be in favor of some of these subversions but I cannot agree that they are legal transgressions. We are supposed to have democracy with laws enacted by a legislature, enforced by an executive not circumvented by the executive through his appointed czars. I worry that the public and press acceding to this activity does not realize that such unfettered power can have dire and and unforseen consequences.
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