Nullification question

Miscellaneous Newbies
,
1

As I understand it, the scenario goes something like this:

  1. The Feds acquire taxes from citizens of the various States (by force).
  2. The Feds then dole out a portion of the tax revenue back to the States in the form of Federal Programs, “Stimulus” Programs, pork spending, etc.
  3. However, the Feds attach strings to the money being returned in a way that forces the States to do things in a specific way and according to the mandates, rules, regulations, (ad nauseam) of the Federal Government or they will cut off the money to the State.

I imagine the Feds saying what they are doing is “legal” because what they are requiring is “voluntary”.

You know. Kind of like how when you are being mugged, the transaction of handing over your wallet to the criminal is “voluntary”. It reminds me of Harry Reid saying income taxes are voluntary.

So, the States can nullify unconstitutional Federal laws. It just strikes me as unlikely.

It seems to me that as long as the citizens of each State allow themselves to be mugged by the Federal Government in the first place, the possibility of being cut off from “Federal Funds” will prevent State Nullification from having a chance.

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter if Nullification is valid and correct. It doesn’t matter that Thomas Jefferson supported the idea. It doesn’t even matter that it might be legal. The only thing that matters is that the Federal Government has POWER.

So, under these circumstances, how should we proceed?

2

Tom Woods has spoken much about this subject. I’m sure you know (as he was probably the source of your knowledge). I remember him saying that in the many times states have used Nullification in the recent years, it hasn’t resulted in any loss of federal funding. I could be mistaken though. That also doesn’t mean the federal government wont, at some point, retaliate.

Purely subjectively, i say we proceed “Full steam ahead, and damn the ice bergs!”

Cheers,

andy

3

It would be interesting to ask people whether they considered themselves citizens of their state, or citizens of the United States first and foremost… :stuck_out_tongue:

I bet the answers on both the left and the right would be… revealing of the nature of the problem.

4

I imagine the Feds saying what they are doing is “legal” because what they are requiring is “voluntary”.

You know. Kind of like how when you are being mugged, the transaction of handing over your wallet to the criminal is “voluntary”. It reminds me of Harry Reid saying income taxes are voluntary.

So, the States can nullify unconstitutional Federal laws. It just strikes me as unlikely"

If income taxes are voluntary, guess the only answer is to opt out. Call their bluff. If the citizens of a particular state refused to send the Fed their money they could nullify whatever they want. When we pay our taxes we’re not only getting mugged we’re giving the mugger a gun.