Posted on 10/24/2012 7:36:04 AM PDT by american_steve
In the presidential debates, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney ranged across dozens of topics, but an important one didn't come up: federalism. And no wonder.
The idea that the Constitution grants only limited and enumerated powers and leaves the remainder to the states is foreign to those who believe that the national government should or even could address voters' every concern. But contrary to the view widely shared by the political class, Washington—in particular, Congress—does not have the power to pass any law it wants in the name of the "general welfare."
Politicians should take heed. Voters are increasingly focused on the proper role of government in society: Witness the rise of the tea party and unease over the massive debt caused by entitlements and other government handouts. The continuing loud objection to ObamaCare's takeover of health care shows that voters want to preserve the Constitution's architecture of limited federal power.
Keeping the federal government within its proper constitutional sphere is critical to all Americans, regardless of their political allegiance. This is because federalism is not about protecting "states' rights" but about preserving individual liberty. In the words of a unanimous 2011 Supreme Court decision, Bond v. United States, by "denying any one government complete jurisdiction over all the concerns of public life, federalism protects the liberty of the individual from arbitrary power. When government acts in excess of its lawful powers, that liberty is at stake."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Pete Hoekstra sent the left off the rails with his comment that the 17th amendment should be repealed.
It was snake oil sold to the people under the guise of empowerment when it really only stripped more power from the states.
In Michigan we have a GOP state government from top to bottom with a majority GOP delegation in the US house of representatives, yet two democrat senators who vote to override the desires of the state at every turn.
They’re wrong. Romney actually did mention the states, and how certain things should devolve upon them and then be under their control. He even said that there is too much central control.
He’s the only one who has said this so far. I didn’t like him to start with, but for this alone, I’d vote for him.
The Federal Government has usurped the powers of the States.
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