Trickle down taxes?

Whenever it is proposed that tax cuts should be given to those who create jobs, there is an outcry that "trickle down economics don't work!" Fine, let's go with that false premise.

I would propose that in the same mindset, "trickle down taxes" not only do not work, but they are not legal. I am talking about the idea that we pay taxes to the FEDERAL government who, in turn, passes that money back to states, cities, counties, schools, and various pork projects. From reading the constitution myself and listening to the arguments of many people who are much smarter than me, I believe that the states are supposed to collect taxes and pass is UP to the Federal Government to cover our share of military and infrastructure. Nowhere do I see anything that leads me to believe that we are supposed to send our money DIRECTLY to the Feds and then THEY decide what should go back to the states.

This goes along with my belief that any and all social programs should be handled on a LOCAL level. Social Security, medicare, welfare, education, local improvements; these are all things that should be paid for by the states, if they choose to offer them. (Okay, education and improvements SHOULD be done, but shouldn't the states decide this?) The Federal government was never meant to care for all of it's citizens from the cradle to the grave. The job of the Feds is very simple. Make sure we aren't attacked by our enemies, and if we are, have the ability to kick their booties back where they came from. They also need to provide interstate (intrastate?) road systems to ensure the free movement of goods and services among states. They need to make sure that states follow the constitution as far in as they don't TAKE AWAY any of our constitutional rights. But that is about it. The government has no business bailing out companies, getting involved in steroid use in MLB, or arguing over if the current bowl system for college football is fair. Why is any of this THEIR business? In addition, why should they be deciding who gets grant money for research? Are they better able to decide than the local populace what needs to be researched? I think not. And why do we need a bazillion czars and agencies to oversee everything we do?

The Tenth Amendment is about states rights AND individuality. It was designed so that people could live where they chose and have a local government that believed in and embraced the same ideas and policies that they did. Does this mean I believe that a state should be able to exclude blacks, gays, Mexicans, etc.from living and working there? No. That would violate the constitution. But I do believe it means that if a state wants to allow or disallow abortion, that is the choice of the voters in THAT STATE. If a state wants to allow or disallow gay or even heterosexual marriage, that is THEIR right! Heck, if California decided that only gay marriages would be recognized, that is their choice. And anyone disagreeing with it could move. This is a free country. If a state wants to lower their drinking age to 16, they should be allowed to do it without the Feds holding highway funds over their heads. This is nothing more than legalized extortion. "Do it our way, or you get no money". It's not THEIR money in the first place, it is ours!

Today, there is truly no difference between the states because they are all mandated to be identical by the Federal government or they don't get their money. This is true in education, welfare, medicaid/medicare, transportation, mining, manufacturing; you name it, the Feds regulate it and tell the states to bow down or no money. What if Arizona finally recognized AIMS for the money guzzling scam it is (I think I heard it cost something like $16,000,000 to run every year??) and said no more high stakes testing. You guessed it, a big ole' chunk of our education money would be gone. But who is the Federal government to say that we don't get our OWN money back because we don't play by their rules? Shouldn't that money stay in the state to begin with? It was earned here. We should say how our education dollars are spent, not the Feds.

This all comes from my belief that true economic freedom (including from excessive taxes) is the path to true PERSONAL freedom. The US used to be number one in economic freedom, but we lose ground every year. We are currently number nine. Nine? Seriously? There is even a country in AFRICA with more economic freedom than we have. How can that be right? Economic freedom begins with taking our taxes back at the state level and deciding what is the best use of OUR funds in our communities. If we don't the next step will be telling us what companies we have to give our money to. Oh, right, GMC. Never mind.