To prevent their abuse, Hamilton explained why the Framers believed direct taxes required explicit constitutional constraints, in addition to the general restraining nature of a constitutional arrangement of limiting government solely to delegated powers.

FORBES: The Case Against Direct Taxation: Part One

The reason is not that a House of Cronies is a good idea, but rather that an explicitly transitional arrangement looks necessary, given that so many other elements in Britain's constitutional arrangements are in flux—Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliaments, possible electoral reform, elected mayors, possible regional assemblies for England, and more.

ECONOMIST: Farewell, Lord Bumbledom, hello Lord Crony?