Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
Perhaps you could explain why a constitutional amendment was required to impose a federal income tax. Hint: the original Constitution prohibited progressive income taxation.
Of course, we both know you knew that and were just trying to mislead people.
If you don't mind my saying so, you seem to be getting a little testy. You and Biden both. I would think it would be high five time at Obama headquarters.
Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
2. Are you really the kind of person who puts a few extra dollars over the interests of the country? Why not just let them buy your vote directly? Then at least you could maximize your return.
Quote from bigdavediode:
Little history lesson for you: the first income taxes in the Republic were imposed before the 16th amendment.
And no, before the 16th amendment the "original constitution" didn't prohibit progressive income taxation -- how could it? The first income tax was implemented in 1861 -- with varying rates depending on where a person lived -- the sixteenth amendment wasn't ratified until 1913.
You're right -- I just made up all that stuff about the sixteenth amendment being ratified -- it's not like you could read and verify any of this stuff.
You know, like in a book.
Biden's doing great -- he's kicking ass and taking names at these interviews and I want to see more of this (propaganda edits notwithstanding.)
On the other hand, I'm prickly by nature but I make up for it by being good looking.
Quote from fhl:
Maybe you should have thought of that when you wrote on taxes. The taxes that were levied before the 16 th amendment were unconstitutional. That's why they needed the amendment. It was the attempted re-imposition of the civil war taxes that caused the constitutional ruling.

Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
1. You need to ask yourself if your long run interests would be better served by a socialist economy or a free market one. I would think for most real traders, the answer is obvious. For bigdave and the other Obama interns, maybe not so clear. They see themselves running the socialist machinery and deciding things like if your mother can have that life-saving operation or how many cars do you need.
That's your principal motivation for voting McCain, since the GOP has betrayed every single tenet of conservatism. Both economic & social. So before lecturing others, look in the mirror (Hello Lesbo Sec of State, interventionist foreign policy serving other countries interests)2. Are you really the kind of person who puts a few extra dollars over the interests of the country? Why not just let them buy your vote directly? Then at least you could maximize your return.
3. Do you really think Obama is going to give "95%" of people a tax cut? If so, I have some excellent deals on bridges in major cities for you. Just like with Clinton's promised "middle class tax cut", once he is safely in office, Obama will develop a severe case of amnesia. Once Obama gets through expanding the welfare system, supporting africa and socializing health care, there won't be any spare change for the middle class. [/B]