re: #264 Hecuba’s daughter

For reasons of practicality, I have long been opposed to the wealth tax and believe a significant increase in the estate tax is be a simpler alternative, but I’ve gradually been coming around to thinking that maybe a wealth tax is really needed.

A wealth tax is (likely) unconstitutional, at least as proposed. Wealth/property taxes are direct taxes and thus have to be based on apportionment. While the courts have regularly narrowed the definition of direct taxes, property taxes have always been one of the “yup, that’s a direct tax” items. Even the legal defense provided by Warren’s campaign were mostly hand waving on this point. Unless/until someone can answer the question: if a property/wealth tax is not a direct tax, then what is?; the proposal won’t survive the slightest legal challenge.