I thought that this Amendment could fix the econ crisis better than the depressant package. Does anyone else agree? What could make it more Austrian? Do you think Dr. Paul would agree with this Amendment? I hope something like this would get ratified by 2015, as I'm hopeful that a Ron Paul Republican will win in 2012, and Dr. Paul Republicans will have a majority in Congress starting 2010. I know that may sound naive, but really, when this depressant package crashes, I don't think many voters will be willing to re-elect the neo-cons and Democrats back to office in 2010. OK, here it is:
[Power taken away from the government, and given to every individual: 1. repeal the 16th and 27th amendment.2. permanently end the printing of money, thus killing inflation. Dr. Paul noted that printing money and borrowing are evil practices.3. Cap a 2% national sales tax until debt is paid off.4. no federal taxes after the debt is paid off.5. immediately and permanently close all military bases off U.S. soil. Bases in U.S. will be closed if private citizens do not feel like funding them. (Peace, freedom, and prosperity are automatically restored by ending forced collectivism)6. All federal agencies/beauracracies as well as all departments except that of State will be abolished. (Liberty restored, by disallowing the government to steal from every individual)7. Abortion, as per the 10th amendment will be a state right; Roe V. Wade violated the Constitution. (States right restored)9. State income taxes are to be flat and no higher than 8%; no state may have a sales tax higher than 7.75%.(to limit collectivism and for every individual to have the most prosperity; the government's social programs do a far worse job than responsible private citizens can do)10. Federal Reserve Dismantled (direct result of no forced collectivism)11. No state may pass any guncontrol laws ;all existing federal and state laws regulating firearms are abolished upon ratification of this amendment. Any individual may carry concealed weapons on public property. Firearm possession on non-tax payer subsidized property is to be regulated by the owner, although it would be wise for them to allow concealed firearms. (Restoration of the 2nd amendment)12-1. War on Drugs is to be abolished (no taxation=the liberty not only to do what you want with what you earned, but also the inalienable individual liberty given by their creator to use or not use drugs without FBI agents knocking on your door at 1 AM and arresting you on bud charges. 12-2. No state may make any drug illegal. No state may set age limits over 17 years of age.13. Due to no federal taxes, each citizen may pay, at their own consent, to their Congress member, up to 19% of a dollar per term, VP up to 13% of a dollar per term, the President up to 17% of a dollar per term.14-1. No state nor school system may pass a dress code; 14-2. no state may pass laws regulating video games; 14-3. no state may restrict the press, nor the media in any way; 14-4. no state may restrict profanity. (restoration of the 1st Amendment)]
Note that 11 and 7 wouldn't have anything to do with the economy, but I wanted to include those as part of the Amendment.
Do you mean 16th and 17th amendments?
And I don't think all of that is anywhere near realistic for one amendment (especially the drug parts unfortunately).
lolz, It would be nice and it would proably solve the economic prolbem, but this isnt going to happen anytime soon. too many people are invested in the system and profit from it.
I don't believe a 2% national sales tax would even pay the interest on the national debt, let alone pay it off.
What's wrong with just repudiating the national debt? Forget about balanced budget amendments and other measures that are supposed to make the government regulate itself. The way to really make the government live within its means is to destroy its credit rating so it can't borrow.
not a fan of Austerity.
Sorry but Lew Rockwell beat you to the ball
do we get free cheezeburger in socielism?
Why are you trying to save the United States government?
The fallacies of intellectual communism, a compilation - On the nature of power
I'm not familiar with repudiation of debt. Is that refusing to pay it? Or no? I'm kind of a newbie, so I'm sure what you would propose would be better than anything I think of; I just need it explained to me.
And 2% national sales tax would take a few hundred years to pay off the debt, so you're right=]
What is Austerity? But you're right, Lew Rockwell did indeed beat me to it.
That would be limiting it, and Constitutionally, right? Or no? I'm not sure, so you should correct me=] I'm quite new to this. Sorry if I seem like an idiot. I'll try not to be from now on, but I need help from my fellow libertarians.
So basically, you're asking the state to limit the state?
Surely you see the conflict of interest.
Diminishing Marginal Utility - IT'S THE LAW!
Solomon: So basically, you're asking the state to limit the state? Surely you see the conflict of interest.
In his scenario the Ron Paul Revolution has conquered the state. Makes one wonder why they would bother with passing a constitutional admendment if they are in complete control.
Supporter of Dr. Paul for Life:I'm not familiar with repudiation of debt. Is that refusing to pay it?
Yes. Then, nobody in their right mind would buy government bonds ever again.
"As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable."
What would Dr. Paul would change about the Amendment, other than the overturning of roe v. wade would have to be separate?
Any Ron Paul Republican would have to have an Amendment or 2 ratified in order to overturn the mess the Neo-con/Democratic Authoritarians have caused to make restore the Old Republic.
I mean, restoring individual liberty has to be Constitutional. The U.S. isn't allowed to be a complete anarchy. I mean, anarchocapitalism is probably the best form of government, but the Constitution doesn't allow it.
Help a newbie out=]
Supporter of Dr. Paul for Life:I mean, anarchocapitalism is probably the best form of government, but the Constitution doesn't allow it.
That has to be the silliest argument against anarcho-capitalism I've ever heard!
Even better:
28th Amendment - The Government shall pass no law.
MatthewF: Even better: 28th Amendment - The Government shall pass no law.
28th Amendment - The constitution only applies to people who individually give their voluntary consent during and after the ratification of this ammendment. They may withdraw their consent, unless they contractually sign a voluntary agreement prohibiting that.
MatthewF, you forgot to add that government should also be able to repeal laws at will! Otherwise, people can interpret the 28th ammendment by saying that government cannot pass a law that repeals a past one.
Schools are labour camps.
Correct, I really worded my post badly. The 10th Amendment guarantees any state the right to withdraw from the Union, as the Constitution does not give the Federal Government the power to prohibit a state from seceding. The 2nd Amendment encourages for the individual to enforce Natural Law (the one defined by John Locke) by allowing the individual right to protection, including allowing the right to bear arms against a tyrannical government, (i.e., one that deprives people of their inalienable right to life, liberty, and property.) Basically, what I meant to say, was "the Constitution is not anarchism, but it does not interfere with any type of government that does not consent to being part of the Union."
Here's the revised list [sorry about the length; I don't see where to change the font size]: 28th: Individual Fiscal Libertyrepeal the 16th Amendment and replace federal income tax and all other federal taxes with a 3% cap national sales tax, applies to internet sales (when there is a surplus, the remainder is anually returned to individuals based upon how much they annually paid in national sales tax as indicated by their annual tax record on file with the U.S. Treasury Dept.); establishes a budget as follows:all but 2 Federal prisons closed (max 20 full-time staff each; each full-time staff member @ $125k each; $1.25m additional budget each (food, substitute employees, cooking, utilities, etc.); close the pentagon (left over assets sold to U.S. citizens and used to pay off part of the debt)^1leave only 9 military bases open ($3.5m each)(1)additional $3.5m military budget$250k for each member of Congress (includes paying staff and housing) [would make Congress write fewer shorter bills and hire fewer staff]8 attorneys for the poor @ $250k each
$175m for the exec branch including $300k for president's salary, $275k 4 original dept secretary salaries, $180k for their workers (no more than 10 each per State, Defense, and Atty Gen. dept; up to 35 full-time treasury workers), secret service (max 30 members @ $300k each; their weapons of choice paid from their salary) the rest maintaining the white house, capitol hill, supreme court building, the Executive Branch's transportation costs, and $180k each of the 9 USSC Justices.$100m worth of annual national sales tax break to those who pay debt, accumulated prior to the ratification of this Amendment, to U.S. debt-holders, and whose debt payments are approved and recorded by the U.S.Treasury Dept. $7.5m added to the U.S. Postal Service ($13k annual bonus added to every U.S. Postal Service worker's annual base salary)29th Amendment: Restore Constitutional Moneyrestore the gold standard; returns the ability to print money and mine gold to the Treasury; those who print or coin currency not printed/coined by the U.S. Treasury Dept.) will be prosecuted by the Supreme Court and sent to federal prison for 1 hour per up to $10 counterfeited, but prison sentences for counterfeiting may not exceed 5 years); (note: Treasury's budget including for for mining gold and Federal Prison budget is defined in the 28th Amendment); Abolishes the Federal Reserve [Caps inflation]30th Amendment: Restore Peace and Prosperity AmendmentEnds federal agencies, closes all military bases not on u.s. soil; the government may not force sanctions on foreign nations; the military bases not on U.S. soil are to be donated to those who held our debt prior to the ratification of this Amendment [abolishes Conquest at the wishes of the First 4 Presidents and Framers of the Constitution] [ensures maximum national security and good relationships with the world]31st Amendment: Restore Individual Liberty and the Inalienable Right to Defense federally legalize all drugs; end prescriptions; repeal all state and federal gun regulations; the Federal government may punish only for Treason, Piracy, and Counterfeiting and nothing else; all powers not listed in the Constitution are taken away from the Federal Government; the Federal Government may not accumulate international debt after the ratification of this Amendment [restores individual liberty]; [honors the 1st, 2nd, and 10th Amendments, respectively]; and [some may benefit from drugs, while others may not, but it is an unalienable individual liberty to use drugs; it's a personal choice; Doctors may give advice, but the government may not require someone else to say whether someone can purchase a drug.]32nd Amendment: Sanctity of Life AmendmentOverturn Roe V. Wade; leave abortion up to the states; No state may use the death penalty. [in respect for the 10th and 8th Amendments respectively] [Dr. Paul says, "Protecting the unborn is protecting liberty; life begins at conception"; he is a Medical Doctor/OB/GYN; he would know; the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment, and Dr. Paul has pointed out that it is biased against blacks; I should note that white females are also far more likely than white males to be punished by death if convicted of murder]