The Nullification Door can Swing Both Ways: A useful tool in protecting liberty -- but also a threat

American Thinker ^ | 06/24/2013 | Bruce Johnson

[SeekAndFind]

Patrick Henry, John Calhoun, and George Mason would be delighted that States are showing some backbone after 220 years of Federal power encroachment. States are again beginning to question Federal authority by, in effect, nullifying some Federal mandates. But the "nullification door" is swinging both ways. Is it not nullification of law by the Federal Government itself when they who hold the federal reins refuse to enforce the laws currently on the books? And when nonenforcement of the law is at the whim of an administration, what recourse exists for the citizenry? For the States?

Both ends of the political spectrum have engaged in nullification, the rejection of Federal law. As noted in this piece by David Leib, the current focal points of dissonance between State and Federal revolve around a strange mix of topics; healthcare, guns, illegal immigration, citizen identification, and marijuana. We can clearly identify both ends of the sociopolitical spectrum and note they have become strange bedfellows in disobeying federal government. Coloradans thumb their nose at federal marijuana laws while Montanans do the same with federal gun laws.

Mr. Leib in his article " Federal Nullification Efforts Mounting in States", lists a few of today' de facto nullifications:

"About 20 states now have medical marijuana laws allowing people to use pot to treat chronic pain and other ailments -- despite a federal law that still criminalizes marijuana distribution and possession. Ceding ground to the states, President Barack Obama's administration has made it known to federal prosecutors that it wasn't worth their time to target those people...

Federal authorities have repeatedly delayed implementation of the 2005 Real ID Act... about half the state legislatures have opposed its implementation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

About 20 states have enacted measures challenging Obama's 2010 health care laws...

[no-to-illegals]

Times before the Revolutionary War and War Between the States are repeating.

[D Rider]

Totally disagree with the FED threat assessment. When the FED belligerently exceeds it's constitutional authority, the remedy can be found in the second amendment, that is why it was put there.

[WilliamRobert]

This is a nice thought but there will be no mass uprising.

[no-to-illegals]

I too once though the same, though come shortly after 2016, am betting equally on both sides, at that point, to see which way the wind will blow. Have an idea which way the wind will blow, but know I better trust God. The wind blowing, in this our present, is coming in three directions at once. Makes an interesting tornado and could evolve into an epic storm. I also sense which side wants the storm and which side does not, thus call me one sitting on the fence, or an observer, cause all of us know, War Is Hell!

[D Rider]

This is a nice thought but there will be no mass uprising.

Do not disagree. Unfortunately,if we are neutered to the point that we will take whatever the Fed dishes out with only wimpers, we are then looking at the end of our Nation.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Agreed. The American is simply too weak and sick to enforce its rights against the Federal Government. The American demographic is that demographic that elected the imbecile in the White House. That fact speaks volumes about the spiritual status of the American. We have lost our status as a People and have become a mere demographic.

[Wurlitzer]

“This is a nice thought but there will be no mass uprising.”

---

Most unfortunately you may be right but I wonder if the same feeling existed with those surrounding the Founding Fathers.

Had they had the same negative thoughts, we might never had experienced the greatness of “We The People” exercising our power over our government. I believe it was only about a 1/3 of the population who had no backbone at our founding.

Because of Low/No information, and lazy voters, we allowed the government to become a self sustaining monster with an insatiable need for money and power.

To cut the power, maybe cutting the IRS off at its knees might be a start.

I am 100% certain that this ship will never be righted if we do not completely dismantle the government school system which has successfully eradicated the reason and brilliance of the founders from the minds of all the low/no information voters.

[DeWalt]

Folks better start turning their attention to state and local elections. The only way to defeat this monster politically is to make states stronger. Federal elections are a farce. Get the states to repeal the 17th amendment and we can do it. Also if you live in a liberal state, consider relocating to a state more politically aligned with your. This will make these states stronger.

[SamuraiScot]

This is a nice thought but there will be no mass uprising.

I disagree. Your statement is the nice thought. Rebellions are never pretty, and are rarely good, which is what makes "no mass uprising" a credibly nice thought. Look around the world. The chaos in the Middle East and Europe looked to be building in the abstract, just from the trends of economics. But it didn't "feel" as if chaos was in the air until suddenly it was. Reminds me of the years 1965-68.

[DeWalt]

That is not necessarily true. With what we have seen with the IRS shenanigans during the elections and the NSA plus Acorn, I am less apt to believe the elections were legitimate. Also remember they are trying to push through amnesty before the next election to water down our votes. They are making this country believe they dont have the votes, but we are still the majority. Don’t believe everything your told.

[boxlunch]

I wish there was a way to know what most Americans really believe, and if they are willing to pay the price to stand up, push back, etc. Do they support the 17th amendment repeal and the 10th amendment and to what extent? How much “chaos” , economic hardship, etc. are they willing to accept to defeat the federal government? Would they be willing to go to a cash only medical system, with only catastrophic insurance, to defeat Obamacare? Would they be willing to take in poorer relatives, parents etc so as to allow their states to not take Federal money and then be free of Federal instrusion?

I live in a conservative place with almost all conservative friends, so it is hard for me to get a realistic picture of what the rest of the country is feeling like. Especially with as you said the IRS, NSA, all the other things going on, maybe even some liberals and independents are seeing things coming.

I just don’t trust “polls” any more. I wish there were some way that Americans could do their own internal polling just by asking friends and acquaintances by word of mouth....

[DeWalt]

Yes, it is the unknown that creates doubt. But you still have to believe that people are inherently good. I am in law enforcement and I live by that code and it has served me well.