As I recall, this remains one of the pivotal opinions from the supreme court. To those who would argue nuances of meaning over time, the only hope is in the word repugnant. I note that over the last few days state's rights is at the core of these postings. That's always been a fundamental issue and a point of confusion on our constitution. It is the strange covenant that does not allow a party a means of exit from the contract. In general contract law does not allow or respect terms which have this character. An encumbrance on a deed which says a piece of land may never contain a liquor store has been limited to the life of the seller as opposed to eternity. Our constitution does provide several methods for amendment, but defaults, by its lack of procedure, to the right of revolution set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Many terms of the constitution have been eroded over time. Check the provision on the basis for "currency" and you will find it has been undone. Maintain that you have no income as defined by the constitution, and the IRS and the courts will put you in jail, just as they did to Al Capone - not that he ever made that claim. Reality takes us to the jungle law of self preservation. The entity of government may do what it chooses to sustain itself in power. If its subjects do not agree and are unable to effect change via the governing documents, the only recourse is revolution. That remains an unalienable right as a basis for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! The bottom line and the NRA are in the same boat on this one.

A good explanation from a man who was radical where state's rights were concerned. He remains one of our greatest theorists on government structure and function. We are the wonder of the world because of this strange structure. While we are a nation of Americans, we are not a nation-state in the manner of France, Germany, Japan, etc. Our diversity of religions, ethnic roots, localities, and regional identity are brought together in a unity that defies most of the rest of the planet. If we lose this and begin to focus more on ethnic or racial or religious identities, we could easily see our noble experiment falter and collapse.

More insight than is usually granted to Benito. It does cause some pause as we look at America today. Sorting out "isms" is never easy. Throughout history we find some alignment of forces is necessary to insure the success of a people, nation-state, empire, or whatever the political entity is called. Divine-right monarchy fell with the advent of the Reformation. Fascism was stopped when it tried to conquer the world by force. Communism lost out to capitalism allied with democracy. Strangely socialism is gathering force for yet another alliance with something/anything. Its basic premise, "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs," looks good on paper, but fails when the able refuse to support the lazy. We can only hope and pray that the current filrtation is not consumated.

I don't agree with the idea of Socialism. I give this 5 stars simply because it lays out the intent of that evil "ism." What disturbs me is how far down that road we have already gone, and the aim of our current President to move us much further. Too few Americans appreciate the fact that America is an experiment in progress. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address includes the words, "...testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure." It is important that we pay attention to what is going on.

The complexity of our "tax system" at all levels stems from the basic dishonesty of politicians. The basic idea behind taxation is to meet the financial needs of the government our free people have established in a fair and equitable manner. People understand the equation of paying for a necessary service. They also understand that all must "chip in" for basic programs like universal, basic education. As government has transformed into something we call "Uncle Sugar," more creative ways of raising the funds had to be developed. Taxes for services like police and fire protection should be collected from all who benefit. We have lost sight of that simple truth. Only a clean sweep and start from scratch approach will ever clean up the mess. The lawyers should really embrace this as "the game" would begin again and they would have more work than they could handle. I can't believe they have missed this.

We did not appreciate Ronald Reagan when we had him as our President. Now we can only wonder how bad things will get under our current boy wonder and boy, do I wonder!

We all know these things about government(s). The history of the ages shows us again and again. The Who have an epic cut entitled "We Won't Be Fooled Again." The closing line says it all, "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." Our problem is the fact that the vast majority need to be led. At the same time, the vast majority's choice of leaders falls to the egotistical fools who want the job. I started reading the volume of Ronald Reagan's diaries when it was published. I quickly learned that the presidency is an impossible task in terms of time, details, schedule, protocol, etc. So we are mostly blessed that good people get this job often enough to keep the great floating crap game going. That is, after all, what Western Civilization and probably the rest of the world is. It's the thing we do while waiting to learn if there is a God. I believe the latter and know I am a player in the game. And so it goes.

Reagan was a real example of the American Dream realised and one of the few people in government who believed in the greatness of America. He said, "Let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams." He is the only President I would even consider adding to Mt. Rushmore!

Debt taken on by an individual is a matter of choice not slavery. Debt taken on by government becomes slavery for some via taxation. Right now our "federal" government is running the printing presses 24/7 churning out "money" in a deadly floating crap game. Perhaps for the first time in our known history, the entire world population is at risk. We are now slaves with no master and no earthly hope of being emancipated.