Commentaries
Friday, September 18th, 2009
Founding Father James Madison, in his defense of the newly drafted Constitution and in an attempt to assuage the fears of many who feared “this [new] government is to possess absolute and uncontrollable powers, legislative, executive and judicial, with respect to every object to which it extends” and “that the power retained by individual States, small as it is, will be a clog upon the wheels of the government of the United States; the latter, therefore, will be naturally inclined to remove it out of the way,” [Anti-Federalist No. 17, Brutus] responded with the following:
Were it admitted, however, that the Federal government may feel an equal disposition with the State governments to extend its power beyond the due limits, the latter would still have the advantage in the means of defeating such encroachments… Should an unwarrantable measure of the federal government be unpopular in particular States, which would seldom fail to be the case, or even a warrantable measure be so, which may sometimes be the case, the means of opposition to it are powerful and at hand. The disquietude of the people; their repugnance and, perhaps, refusal to co-operate with the officers of the Union; the frowns of the executive magistracy of the State; the embarrassments created by legislative devices, which would often be added on such occasions, would oppose, in any State, difficulties not to be despised; would form, in a large State, very serious impediments; and where the sentiments of several adjoining States happened to be in unison, would present obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter. [Federalist No. 46]
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
From Virginia Citizen (February 1992)
As Virginians, we face a challenge equal to any challenge in our history: How can we solve severe and persistent social and economic problems, such as crime, homelessness, school dropouts, poverty, family disintegration, teen suicides and pregnancies, and recession, without more government?
Conservatives have been good at identifying the problems with government. Our criticisms of smothering regulation, stifling bureaucracy, growth-killing tax increases, self-perpetuating government programs, and laws and policies that discourage private initiative, erode individual responsibility and undermine community, have been on the money. (more…)
Monday, September 14th, 2009
If you want an illustration of how far we’ve come from a culture of self-reliance to one of dependency, contrast the recent newspaper profile of Lura Grubb of southwestern Virginia with the news reports about the federal government’s decision to extend Medicare coverage to the treatment of obesity. It’s not a pretty picture. (more…)
Friday, June 19th, 2009
Source: Center for Just Society
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
—The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
When Republican governors like Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour, and Sarah Palin voiced reservations about their states’ participation in the federal stimulus package this spring, they were accused of placing political ideology over the best interests of their constituents. A prominent attack ad currently running against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell cites his opposition to stimulus funding for Virginia as evidence of his lack of concern for hardworking families. For many people, the idea that a governor would turn down “free” money from Uncle Sam in order to protect the economic solvency and political independence of their state is completely foreign, if not downright laughable. As the central government continues to grow and amass power, however, perhaps now is the time to begin a thoughtful public discussion about the proper constitutional role of state governments in a federalist system. (more…)
Friday, October 17th, 2008
Source: Center for Just Society
If the election were held today, Barack Obama would be the new President of the United States of America. The latest Real Clear Politics average of national polls shows Obama ahead of McCain by nearly seven percentage points. It looks like the Democrats are going to have control of both the White House and Congress for the next four years.
And, mark it down, if there is a Democrat sweep, conservative Republicans will get the blame. (more…)
Friday, June 13th, 2008
Source: Center for Just Society
“Political moral philosophy” sounds like an oxymoron in the context of our modern, unprincipled politics. Nevertheless, a sound moral philosophy is the vital center of any political movement intent on fashioning a just society. Unfortunately, both political parties today seem to have lost their grip on whatever moral philosophy they once held to be true. Democrats have abandoned their old socialist ideals for a pragmatic approach focused on winning elections by promising new domestic programs and repeating a mantra advocating vague, undefined notions of “change.” Republicans have dropped their ideals of personal freedom and limited government in favor of winning elections by rewarding powerful special interest groups with earmarks, tax cuts, and limitations on liability for wrongdoing.
The dominant principle of moral philosophy guiding both major political parties seems to be reelection. (more…)
