[mlocher]

thanks. i likewise struggle at the best approach to remove the yoke of the federal government from our necks. i agree that education is required to put truth at least on the same level the crap the media spews. besides what you have said, i would like to see economics taught in high school -- adams style!

a relative drafted a constitutional amendment to eliminate the federal income tax. she was audited several years in a row. it will be tough to make any drastic changes.

the confederacy should mint money, maintain a militia, maintain a foreign policy and possible handle roads. everything else, as you said, should be delegated downwards. i am not against different level of government interference at the state (or sub unit level) -- at least that way i have a choice. but there probably needs to be some common bill of rights package that applies to all states.

[Architect]

the confederacy should mint money, maintain a militia, maintain a foreign policy and possible handle roads

I have to say that I disagree with you on all these points. Money should obviously be supplied by the market. There is no reason for a federal road system. That can be handled privately or the states. Note that the roads between Canada and the US join together, despite the lack of a common authority to manage them.

Foreign policy? Bad idea. The best foreign policy is no foreign policy, as Washington and Jefferson said.

Militia? Possibly something on the Swiss model. But the reality is that, other than a couple of nukes and perhaps some anti-troop carriers, the US doesn't need any defense at all.