[Scenic Sounds]

It's pretty weird when you think about it -- this novel idea called "the United States of America" really only lasted about five years.

That's one way of looking at it, if you agree with Jefferson's interpretation of the Constitution. Of course, Washington and Hamilton (and a lot of other folks) didn't agree.

It's interesting, though, how many people think that this liberal view of Federal power under our Constitution all began with Lyndon Johnson, or FDR, or Wilson, or Teddy Roosevelt, or Lincoln when, in fact, it was President Washington and Alexander Hamilton who consciously (particularly in view of Jefferson's comments) decided in favor of the broad implied Federal powers that now concern many conservatives.

[Deliberator]

it was President Washington and Alexander Hamilton who consciously (particularly in view of Jefferson's comments) decided in favor of the broad implied Federal powers that now concern many conservatives.

I dunno. How much of today's bloated federal government can be justified as "necessary and proper" for exercising its enumerated powers---even under Hamilton's broad reading of "necessary and proper"?

[justshutupandtakeit]

Implied powers were not in dispute until it became expedient for Jefferson to argue against them. You should study some of the deeper sources of history of that era.

[cajungirl]

Yes to post 17,,some seem to think Jefferson's view of the constitution is the only view. I don't. I sort of like Washington's.