Comments on: McCain’s 3/5ths Plan http://acandidworld.com/2008/09/27/mccains-35ths-plan/ Democracy in America Sun, 27 May 2012 05:50:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Ames http://acandidworld.com/2008/09/27/mccains-35ths-plan/#comment-6621 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:05:31 +0000 http://www.acandidworld.net/?p=2289#comment-6621 Ah, sorry about that :). I think the potential of it actually being passed is so slim that it amounts to grandstanding: the plan would require a constitutional amendment, and those things just don’t happen, really. And even if it did get passed, I’m not sure it would have much effect. Most taxes – as far as I understand it, and I might be wrong – pass as part of must-pass omnibus legislation. Which is to say, they pass by super-majorities, and a 3/5 requirement wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Apart from that, 3/5 is a bad number to put back in the Constitution…

]]> By: Jonathan http://acandidworld.com/2008/09/27/mccains-35ths-plan/#comment-6622 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:31:33 +0000 http://www.acandidworld.net/?p=2289#comment-6622 I’m not well versed in these sorts of legal matters, but I am interested. Would you mind elaborating on your point?

On the face of it, it doesn’t strike me as a terrible idea to require a broader consensus to raise taxes, though I suspect a rule that cuts both ways would be better. Do you feel 3/5ths majority is too high? When you say you’d be worried if McCain made this a major issue, is that because you think it’s a bad idea; or that you think it would make him a more desirable candidate; or is it simply a that of passing an amendment with “uncertain effects” is troubling.. which is certainly is?

Anyway, it’s not clear to me what you’re trying to get across, and I would love to be enlightened.

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