"That's funny, the only time I've ever really seen tpaine "love" big centralized government was when it was protecting our Rights as ennumerated in the BoR from intrusion at any level. I've never seen him support Federal control over local schools for instance." - DC
When tpaine bashes the south, he cozies up to the 14th Amendment. When he cozies up to the 14th Amendment, he actually does support Federal control over the things you say he doesn't. Maybe he doesn't realize he's doing it. But I'll give you an example or two: "equal protection" can mean to some judges that Casey Martin gets to ride in a golf cart, and that the Supreme court controls the rules of golf, and not the PGA. (the ADA has its basis in the 14th Amendment) Equal protection to another judge can mean that a white kid has to ride 1 hour in a bus to go to school with black kids, when the state has already built a school using his parent's tax money that is 5 min. away. (busing is the fruit of more 14th-Amendment based legislation)
I'm the opposite of a nanny stater.
Many things we are plagued with today - much judicial activism - originates from the 14th Amendment, which in turn has its origin in vindictiveness against the South, and I've seen that flavor of vindictiveness in some of tpaine's posts.
I agree. The USSC (ab)uses the 14th the same way Congress (ab)uses the Commerce Clause.