States' Rights are nice in theory. But then some State comes along and legalizes medical marijuana or assisted suicide, and we can clearly see the folly in the idea.
Strangely enough, I believe these two issues do actually fall under the stewardship of the State. They represent, for the most part, victimless crimes.
The Ten Amendment is part of the Constitution. What the Constitution doesn't give to the federal government, it gives to the people. Let people and the states decide for themselves in most cases. They know what is best for them. As a side note: slavery is not good for anyone. But it's still going on, even here in the U.S. If we fought for slavery, we haven't won yet. Because state's rights were adversely affected, we've lost the war by winning a battle.
You seem to forget that there was no 14th amendment at the time.
States' Rights are nice in theory. But then some State comes along and legalizes medical marijuana or assisted suicide, and we can clearly see the folly in the idea.
Yes, some state does something stupid and only the citizens of that state who are stupid enough to stay suffer. Making everything national just means every issue is a fight to the death winner take all struggle(like abortion). If that's the way you want it, fine, but don't whine about all the divisiveness and maybe actual war.
In a true constitutional republic, that would be a right reserved to that state. However, enactmaent of a particular law or legislation does not prevent citizens from either choosing to stay, or choosing to go.
Wolfie wrote:
"States' Rights are nice in theory. But then some State comes along and legalizes medical marijuana or assisted suicide, and we can clearly see the folly in the idea."
So the tenth Ammendment, in your estimation, would only cover those decisions with which you agree? How are your views on this fundamentally different from the nanny-state liberal's view? In both cases you mention, the good folks in D.C. who know better than their subjects in the individual states take upon themselves the burden of "correcting" the decisions of the state legislature and/or the voters of that state, ostensibly for their own good, one presumes. Is this really part of the "conservative" idealogy nowadays?
I take exception with the idea that "we" see the same thing at all on this subject. The collectivist "we" is the source of more grief and tyrrany than any other concept in the human lexicon.
Lekker1:
"Strangely enough, I believe these two issues do actually fall under the stewardship of the State. They represent, for the most part, victimless crimes."
I don't see how this sentiment is "strange" at all; it is perfectly consistent with the principle of individual liberty and self-ownership. Too many people who call themselves "conservative" have forgotten what limited government and individual responsibility mean; I suppose this is the reason for having a Libertarian party.
Tyrranical government... it's not just for Democrats anymore.
If enough people and states agree then pass an Amendment. Otherwise the people of the state can move.
The Constitution left questions of the Police Power, that is the right to legislate as to health, safety and morals, to the States. Your unhappiness with how some of them choose to exercise that power, does not authorize you to work for Federal usurpation of powers never delegated.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
I see no folly in those ideas. They are the definition of crime which is inherently a States' prerogative. The Federal government has no business defining crime except in DC and on military bases with the possible exception of treason. That is why, while Roe v Wade is bad law and usurpation and should be overturned, there should then be NO law affecting abortion or any other definition of murder outside of Federal law for Federal jurisdictions, i.e. DC and military bases.
gay marriage comes to mind...
The USA as the lone superpower would not exist if the issue of states' rights had not been resolved.
I do not see the Federal government as a threat, I see liberalism as the threat we face today. Conservatives are now beginning to take a stand vs a group, a mindset, that has had its way for many years, primarily on the social front...and see where that's gotten us today?
We must win the culture war...and we are. It's today's civil war.
Some ex. of issues evident in the culture war: gay marriage, broadcast decency, public referrence to God and Christianity, the War on Terror)