New poll finds overwhelming support for an annual wealth tax

[Demsrule86]

19. The income tax require an amendment in order to be implemented.

The Constitution prohibits federal direct taxes that are not apportioned by population, except for the income tax which is specifically permitted by the Sixteenth Amendment. So the issue is what is a direct tax? Other taxes such as the estate tax and business income tax were found constitutional for different reasons...the estate tax was upheld as an indirect tax on the transfer of wealth. The business income tax was upheld as an excise tax for the privilege of doing business. None were ruled constitutional as direct taxes. Also, all involved some sort of business enterprise.

This doesn't exist in the wealth tax...and we have an unfriendly court towards progressive policy...thus I believe the wealth tax would be found unconstitutional as it violates the apportion aspect that must be present in order to make a direct tax permissible and an unfriendly SCOTUS makes this very likely too.

Now this has nothing to do with the constitutionality of a wealth tax, but I would not be in favor of multiple taxes on the same money and assets . I think eventually we will all pay such a tax...just like we all pay income taxes today...even though it began as a tax on the wealthy.