[Platapus]

I believe that the founding fathers missed one major threat to the citizens.

It appears that the founding fathers thought that the worst thing congress could do is pass bad laws. Hence the balance of power between the three branches which would preclude congress from passing really terrible laws.

However, in my opinion, the worst thing that congress can do is spend money. There are no restrictions on what congress can spend money on... and little if no oversight. Congress is no longer interested in making laws but in how they can spend money for their agendas.

Even though I am a staunch believer in small governments, I often think it might be advantageous for there to be a fourth branch of the government.

This branch would be the only branch empowered to collect/levy taxes but is not authorized to spend money (which might cut down on the conflict of interest).

Congress, therefore, would have the authority to spend money but only the money the fourth branch gives it.

The intent is that there should not be one branch of the government with unlimited power to obtain money and have unlimited power to spend money.

Just a whacky idea.