In this jonathanturley.org article, Jonathan Turley dismantles claims by Gov. Gavin Newsom and others that the Framers would support a wealth or billionaire tax, arguing such proposals contradict the constitutional design protecting property rights.
- The Founders embraced capitalism, private property, and free markets as natural rights, heavily influenced by John Locke, viewing government seizure without compensation as tyranny.
- Madison designed the system, including the Senate, to protect the “minority of the opulent against the majority,” rejecting redistributive impulses.
- The Constitution explicitly protects property via the Fifth Amendment Takings Clause and originally avoided direct wealth taxes, requiring the 16th Amendment for income taxes.
- Newsom’s push for a national wealth tax ignores how California’s policies have driven a reverse Gold Rush, with billionaires fleeing high taxes and regulations.
- Historical precedents like France’s wealth tax led to capital flight and economic damage before repeal, showing such policies fail to deliver promised results.
- Turley warns that court-packing and wealth taxes represent a “Mamdanian” rather than Madisonian vision, prioritizing redistribution over limited government and individual rights.
Read the full story:
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/07/05/no-the-framers-would-have-hated-the-wealth-tax/
The secret is out: : jdrucker.com is the fastest-growing Drudge-like aggregator in conservative and Christian media.
