Calhoun and his modern understudies are not wrong: there is a conflict between their vision of economic liberty and political democracy. Where they are allowed to, majorities will use the political process to improve their situations, and that can result in taxes being imposed on those with the wealth to pay them. The American people have used their power to do many significant things that required tax revenues: provide public education, develop manufacturing, build roads and bridges, create land-grant universities, protect the safety of food and drugs, enable workers to speak as one through
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