Latest letter to editor:
A Sunday letter writer suggests
(Emphasis on states' rights will improve nation) that we would be better
served by having the individual states assume some of the governmental
functions that he sees the Federal government as unconstitutionally and
ineffectively performing. He even asserts that the Founding Fathers had
this "libertarian model" in mind when they wrote the Constitution.
While we could certainly debate the possible ramifications of delegating
more authority to the states, the idea that the Founders had that in
mind is curious. They actually set out to strengthen the central
government, not weaken it. They already had a loose confederation of
states with each claiming sovereignty. What they created was a "more
perfect union" with a stated purpose of, among other things, promoting
the general welfare. Probably what the author(s) of the Pledge of
Allegiance were thinking when they wrote the words "One Nation,
Indivisible." No?
Indivisible?
ReplyDeleteThat's a word from the past.
Ron
Well done!
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should divide up the military and give it to the states. Let Alabama attack Iran. The cost is on them. Same with the FAA, let the private jet owner file 10 flight plans to cross the country, contact 10 air traffic control systems on the way and hope the state he lands in has been keeping the navigational systems in repair. The Kochs would like this, they already own Kansas & Louisiana and maybe Wisconsin, Wyoming, give states more power and they are on the way to setting up Kochistan.
The Founding Fathers weren't on the same page anyway. Some wanted a strong federal government, some wanted a weak one. The Constitution is a compromise.
ReplyDeleteVery true. The Federalist Papers and the so-called Anti-Federalist Papers are very interesting reading.
DeleteCompromise, what a concept ...