Many of us seem to overlook the fact that most of the taxes we pay are to State, City, and Country governments: State and local sales tax, property tax, State income tax, and even a big chunk of the $3.50 a gallon we pay at the pump.

How, then, have we come to rely on the Federal Government to pay for such local needs as education, welfare, and roads and bridges? Under the the Constitution, the States (or "We the People", if you prefer) for a Federal Government -- not/not a national government. There is scant legal basis for a national government in this country. Under the Constitution, the Federal Government has very clear limits of authority and responsibility: national defense, foreign diplomacy, treaties, and regulation of international and interstate commerce. If we were to hold the Federal Government to these enumerated powers, we would be well justified in reducing the amount of Federal Income Taxes (which didn't even exist prior to the 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913).

I suggest that we hold our State and Local governments accountable for all non-international and non-interstate services, and leave those only to the Federal Government. Should we ever get to that (which is how our system was originally designed), we could greatly reduce the amount of taxpayer money entrusted into the hands of those in far off Washington, D.C.