United States Times Weekly: U.S.

Our Constitutional Republic worked quite well until the 20th Century, when socialism started sweeping across Europe and then into America under President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal."

Today, more than 75 percent of the federal budget is spent on "welfare state" programs, and the percentage increases each year. it's called "incrementalism" creeping socialism. we're becoming a socialist state without even knowing it, or caring, which is worse.

None of these "welfare state" programs can be found in our Constitution or Bill of Rights. They emerged slowly, sneakily, one at a time, imperceptibly eroding our Constitutional rights as taxpaying voters.

These "changes in law" were supported by a federal government that created these programs as "giveaways" to taxpayers to win their votes.

Except it was the taxpayers who were paying for their own entitlements, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other socialist programs.

America has been on a self-destruct coarse ever since the United States Congress approved the 16th Amendment, creating a federal income tax 90 years ago. The 16th Amendment was "illegal" because it was not properly ratified by the 38 states at the time of its adoption in 1913.

Neither the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), nor the Treasury Secretary and Congress, want to deal with this historic issue. Not even the U.S. Supreme Court wants to hear the case, although it has had many opportunities to do so.

There are several lawsuits pending in the federal courts on the illegality of the 16th Amendment, but they have yet to be heard. That's government's way of delaying the inevitable. After all, abolishing the income tax and restructuring our federal government according to the Constitutional laws set forth by American's founding fathers would put an end to this massive "welfare state."

But the politicians, special interests and the bureaucrats have taken over our expanding, out-of-control federal bureaucracy to the detriment of working taxpayers and the quality-of-life of our citizens.

Not too long ago, a one-income family was enough to make it in America. Now a two-income family holding two or more jobs no longer guarantees a safe and secure life for millions of American citizens. Spending and inflation have impacted workers and families hard over the past 40 years.

Today, if a President could get tax rates down to 5 percent or less, taxpayers would make that President a super-hero, right up there with George Washington and the Great Emancipator, Abe Lincoln.

That will not happen in today's wasteful welfare state. Liberals would attack the President as an extremist trying to destroy our bloated federal government.

Liberals viciously attacked President George W. Bush when he tried to limit the top tax rate at 33 percent. That's one-third of our income for one single tax!

America is in deep fiscal trouble for a nation that was founded on freedom. Remember the 1776 Tax Revolution? That was pittance (tea and stamp taxes), compared to today's oppressive tax burden.

Through exorbitant taxation, government now owns every taxpayer.

The ultimate cover-up has been the biggest of the Big Liberal Lies: That is, the government debasing of its own currency so badly that comparisons with the past are difficult.

Today, a $10,000 annual income makes you a poor person living on welfare. In 1960, it was enough for a one-income family to live comfortably the "good life!"

For example, a 1960-dollar is worth less than 10 cents today. That's real, insidious inflation.

Between punishing taxes and inflationary dollars, taxpayers are on a downhill treadmill.

Soon, we'll all be impoverished millionaires.

The U.S. Constitution not only charged the federal government with preserving the value of money, but also specifically authorized it to punish counterfeiting.

What we have had for many years is a counterfeit government that no longer represents the working, taxpaying voters.

America's 1776 Tax Revolt against the King of England has been wiped out by our own federal government.

That's the crime of the century and it began with the 1913 federal income tax.

"Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."
www.etherzone.com/2003/bish112703.shml

Gordon Bishop is a national award winning author, historian and syndicated columnist, and New Jersey's first "Journalist-of-the-Year" - New Jersey Press Association/1986. He is a regular columnist for Ether Zone.
Gordon Bishop can be reached at: GJBishop@aol.com