Problems With A Generic Balanced Budget Amendment

J.J. Jackson | May 31, 2011 

Here we go again. The calls for a balanced budget amendment are coming fast and furiously. With the debt limit increase vote looming and America’s fiscal house collapsing, this is a popular refrain to sing.

It sounds reasonable; make it unconstitutional for the government to spend more than it takes in. And on the general principle I like the idea.

But there are problems. Conservatives, who are few and far between in our government, will abide by it. Liberals and moderates simply will not.

Liberals and moderates (liberals who don’t like to be called liberals but who are still liberals) already violate the Constitution on a daily basis today. Why would they abide by a new Amendment designed to keep them in line? They simply will not.

Here is what they will do if a balanced budget amendment is added to our Constitution. First, when they are in control they will plan to spend more money than any reasonable person can assume will be brought in. Then they will say that they will raise taxes to make up difference. At the end of the year there will not be enough money raised from the increased taxes to cover the shortfall and SHAZAM! they will have spent more than they brought in violating the Constitution yet again.

This is but one example. But it proves how easy it is to get around words on paper when there is no force behind them.

Unless there is a clause added to the amendment which would strip those that voted in favor of spending more money than was brought in of their office, automatically, and further prohibit them from holding future elected or appointed office, or some other such punishment, a balanced budget amendment will not be worth the paper it is written on. You can take that to the bank.

Copyright © 2006-2010
J.J. Jackson is a libertarian conservative author from Pittsburgh, PA who has been writing and promoting individual liberty since 1993 and is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. He is the Pittsburgh Conservative Examiner for Examiner.com. He is also the owner of The Right Things - Conservative T-shirts & Gifts. His weekly commentary along with exclusives not available anywhere else can be found at LibertyReborn.com (Digital Fingerprint: libertyreborn123456789)


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