[robertpaulsen]

"It gave the feds the power to regulate, in order to ensure that we essentially have a free trade zone between the states, so that states could not become protectionist"

Yes, that's how the Commerce Clause was initially used. Are you saying that the Commerce Clause was limited to ensuring a free trade zone between the states?

If so, then please back that up with something ... anything.

[antiRepublicrat]

If so, then please back that up with something ... anything.

Read the history of the Commerce Clause. The all-encompassing definition of the clause is fairly recent, mainly established by FDR's New Deal.