[PapaNew]

By consent of the governed applies downhill as well.

The consent of the governed is also moderated by the Constitution. We live in a Constitutional republic, not perfect by any means but the best form of government known to man. It is a form of government that is dependent on the people of the states and localities as well as individuals to govern themselves. Self governance is the cornerstone of freedom and our Constitutional Republic.

If your state goes in a direction you're unhappy with, you can move to one that's more to your liking. Again, it's not perfect, but it's ever so much better than what we have now - a $4 trillion government beast that is in the very process of overthrowing our free Constitutional republic and turning it into a Collectivist state. The federal government is not your friend.

[Darksheare]

And when in the course of human events the government no longer represents the people, the people have the right to abolish it and start anew.
That is enshrined in there too.

[DJ MacWoW]

Government at federal, state and local levels need to be reined in. They have all become monsters.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. James Madison

[OneWingedShark]

We live in a Constitutional republic

Bwahahahaha — on paper, sure.
Reality's a bit different.