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The masses have a voice in proportion to the degree to which they control where their taxes go. The power of the purse is remarkable, because you can destroy (a
by javajosh 6y ago
The masses have a voice in proportion to the degree to which they control where their taxes go. The power of the purse is remarkable, because you can destroy (almost) any instutition by simply defunding it (which is also why any attempt to circumvent that power, e.g. Executive re-purposing of funds, should set off huge blaring alarms.)
And when it comes to "what congress can do" I'd argue that it's 90% about allocation of funds -- because it doesn't matter what the law is if there is no money to enforce it.
- almost_usual 6y agoYou could argue the US has a debt as large as it does because it has the strongest military on Earth. Who is going to enforce the debt collection? Using this logic and the destabilization of US military the natural answer is another highly militarized government. So where there is lawlessness there is opportunity for authoritarianism whether that’s a gang, police, US military, or foreign adversary. We need to be smart about change and boil the frog, not get into a fight we cannot win, otherwise society will descend into authoritarianism likely ran by the most experienced and powerful authoritarian.
- jjeaff 6y agoThe fact that the debt is deliniated in US controlled currency is what protects us. Now, our stability, partially due to our military allows that to happen. But it isn't necessary to avoid being collected on.