Sunday, November 17, 2013

Federalism

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?

4 comments:

  1. Indivisible?
    That's a word from the past.

    Ron

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  2. Well done!
    Maybe 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.

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  3. 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.

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    Replies
    1. Very true. The Federalist Papers and the so-called Anti-Federalist Papers are very interesting reading.

      Compromise, what a concept ...

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