If the federal government wants to tax things they indeed can. But I was asking about a chance from the status quo.
If you owe the US government money right now they can take it out of your bank account.
> Unlike with the banking system where different banks have different prices for wires - or even free under certain conditions - you can't "shop around" for a new government.
You can shop around for a different bank but it will still follow US law and also go above and beyond to help out the feds.
> Further, if a government determines you are not an "acceptable" participant, they have the ability to stop transactions to/from you.
Yes, but this already exists. https://ofac.treasury.gov/specially-designated-nationals-and...
> *Ability doesn't necessarily translate to authority - you can probably fight it - but the government's legal fees are paid by us so they're effectively unlimited.
Yes but your legal remedies might actually be better under FedWire. US fourth amendment law has a massive loophole whereby if a private business "voluntarily" assists the government it doesn't count as a search. So if the government searches your government bank account you'll have potentially better remedies than if they ask your private bank to pretty please send a printout. (and there's very little chance your current bank tells the feds to shove off and come back with a warrant in that kind of situation)