The Federalist

This week when reading Madison's passages this piece called my attention a lot. "The appointment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pocket (p. 93)." The subject of taxes has always been very controversial. We would think about taxes as something we should always be careful with, but as Madison says taxes are an opportunity for those with power to save an extra penny from their pocket. This quote reminds me a lot of today's debate over taxes and the wealthy 1%. We poor people pay lots of taxes that seem to be taking away our breath while the top people who are able to pay a little bit more saves more money in the bank. Although taxes are "relative" to our income and look "impartial" poor people have always the worse part on it.

When reading Alexander Hamilton's  I chose this part. "A Constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents (p. 121)." This is mostly what we all know today about the constitution. It called my attention because it might be the place from were we all got a definition of the constitution without knowing. The constitution as Hamilton says is fundamental. It is evident that laws are to be followed and that they help our day by day go smoothly. Between this two quotes I should say Madison's seems to be more realistic and open-minded.  This is the reason why I chose it in the first place, rather than just showing an idealistic point of view Madison showed how even when we think those with power should be doing what is best for us the sometimes do what is best for themselves.