The plaintiffs’ arguments in Moore v. United States have little basis in law — unless you think that a list of long-ago-discarded laissez-faire decisions from the early 20th century remain good law. And a decision favoring these plaintiffs could blow a huge hole in the federal budget. While no Warren-style wealth tax is on the books, the Moore plaintiffs do challenge an existing tax that is expected to raise $340 billion over the course of a decade.

But Republicans also hold six seats on the nation’s highest Court, so there is some risk that a majority of the justices will accept the plaintiffs’ dubious legal arguments. And if they do so, they could do considerable damage to the government’s ability to fund itself.

  • @Mirshe
    link
    11 year ago

    Also, it wouldn’t just be the end of US society. Remember how much stuff is tacked to the US dollar, how much trade and business is reliant on US industries. If the government suddenly collapsed entirely, taking the entire economy with it pretty much, it’d start a HUGE chain of dominoes. I feel like several countries could become the new superpower, but until that settles out, the entire WORLD would start falling apart in quick order.