An inherent problem with the US constitution is that, while it establishes many means to restrict the growth of the federal government, it provides few undramatic means to prune the excessive growth of government.
In other words, the individual States need some means by which they can calmly dismantle unauthorized and unruly actions by the federal government.
One means *did* exist, that provided an effective check on the federal government. This was the selection of US senators by the individual States. But this was thwarted in 1913 with the 17th Amendment, after ratification by the States, with the direct popular election of senators.
So the individual States, in a fit of populism, stripped themselves of the means by which the could control an ever invasive and out of control federal government.
Today, with this large number of 10th Amendment resolutions being drafted by the States, since the federal government is ignoring this plea, the next, least dramatic action by the individual States should be the repeal of the 17th Amendment.
The alternative would be for 3/4ths of the States to call a constitutional convention. And as dramatic as this sounds, in a time where federal extravagance has gone beyond the pale, with a complete economic collapse, there may be no other choice.
So a repeal of the 17th Amendment would be the much preferred option. Likely this would mean that 1/3rd of the US senate would be confirmed or replaced by their home State legislature in the following three federal elections.
>So a repeal of the 17th Amendment would be the much preferred option. Likely this would mean that 1/3rd of the US senate would be confirmed or replaced by their home State legislature in the following three federal elections.
I would also like an amendment which forbade the government / congress from spending monies not in existence... the Constitution allows for the minting of silver or gold coinage only... perhaps the federal government should be forbidden to use EFT, Check, and Credit Card. By making our money a physical thing they could not as easily spend money we do not have. (States, however, would not be so constrained.)
I absolutely agree that the 17th was a disaster.
All in all, 1913 was a BAD year for the Republic.
...undramatic means...
Ok, don’t get me wrong, I am not cross with you but it seems to me the more the government can turn the people into masses of intellectually lazy phlem, the better for them...
Our system allows us to prune the government every two years...
Apparently, a concept lost (or at least ignored) by some...
“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary...” lalala...
I think the premise of that dramatic statement is getting close for some, yet the simple solution I mentioned above is lost sometimes even to them...
Even though you could count on me to do my part, in either senario...
But I will offer this...The message in 2010 could really start here this year with local and other state elections...I’ve been trying to pound that idea from way back before the elections last year...
I want people to prove me wrong, show me how committed you are to the process...If it doesn’t work, well then, I wonder who we have to blame for the future then???
I think it would be absolutely outstanding to send all, if not a few of these pains in our arses home, forever...
To me the best way to hurt a politician is to send them home, fire them...
But again, this is just my opinion...
BTW, that is a great essay by the original poster, one that needs further study...I’m not looking to throw rocks at it at all...