Let’s unite America around federalism
The simple but brilliant solution to bring about peaceful coexistence: Washington would mind its own business. The Framers specifically refused to transform local customs or mores into a ‘one size fits all’ monstrosity. Different regions had distinct cultural dynamics. America’s de-centralized political establishment dating back to the colonial era remained intact. Federal control was checked.
We’ve strayed, but Washington would be wise to refrain from most of the domestic functions it has wrongly undertaken since the New Deal. Federal meddling in moral matters, the distribution of relief, education, healthcare, agriculture and myriad other domestic considerations ought to cease.
Mr. Romney rightly suggested legislation like Obamacare should be determined by states. He should have taken federalist logic further to include poverty programs and other entitlements. Republicans did propose block funding for Medicaid to begin stabilizing the national budget. This plan would likely enhance efficiency, but social insurance initiatives ought to be eased entirely back to state capitols.
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Exactly!
It’s either that or bicker forever about abortion, gay marriages and so forth when even those on the right agree more than we disagree.
eforhan on November 17, 2012 at 6:57 PM
GOP Ayatollahs in Washington DC are all about the PORK BARREL.
They’ll never support a notion like “Federalism”.
HondaV65 on November 17, 2012 at 6:57 PM
And if we don’t “unite America around federalism” what are conservatives going to do? Just sit back and take it up the arse?
The Right in the US is completely self-destructive… the game is rigged against them and they don’t seem to care. They Groan, but they don’t Act.
We need a Alpha-Right movement in the US that cares about more than sustaining the Beta-GOP… and libertarianism isn’t the answer.
ninjapirate on November 17, 2012 at 6:59 PM
The only hope that at least some of us can live in freedom, is for the red states to leave the union under an explicitly anti-progressive constitution.
Rebar on November 17, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Too late.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 17, 2012 at 7:03 PM
Yea! So let’s vote for democrats! That’ll show em!
/
jawkneemusic on November 17, 2012 at 7:09 PM
The problem is that it makes no sense. If you don’t agree on the most basic principles, then you shouldn’t have a single government to which you both respond.
The basic issue is one of equal justice under law. If you have different standards depending on which side of a state border you live, then you are claiming such different standards are both legitimate — but in so doing, you deny that there exists an objective right and wrong — and by doing that, you acknowledge that the exercise of authority by the state is not in conformity with an underlying moral truth, but is only the exercise of arbitrary authority. A government that engages in acts that do not conform to what is moral is then content to turn a blind eye to immorality, and thus itself becomes an agent of evil.
Either pursue national solutions, or pursue secession, but stop seeking peace by rendering state authority as never anything more than arbitrary, and stop settling for the worst of both worlds in Federalism.
Stoic Patriot on November 17, 2012 at 7:12 PM
I used to think secession was crazy. Now I am rethinking that position. I’m about fed up with all the leftist troglodytes in my native home of Denver. They’re ruining this state. Might make my way to Idaho at some point.
jawkneemusic on November 17, 2012 at 7:12 PM
Its win-win that everyone should go for. Unfortunately though, it would defeat the purpose of socialism.
Maybe if we can provoke the feds to go after some of these new marijuana states the leftists will give it a second thought.
bernverdnardo1 on November 17, 2012 at 7:14 PM
I misread the headline in haste and thought that it said “feudalism.” I thought that is what Obysmal is aiming for.
onlineanalyst on November 17, 2012 at 7:16 PM
This displays a fundamental lack of understanding about who the Democrats are.
They will not leave you in peace. They are the ones who are pushing the federal government control of every aspect of a citizens life.
The left demands that we cut co2 emissions to save the world, the religion of civil liberties resulting in equality of results, race quotas, subsidies for alternative energy, gutting the Second Amendment, every American has a ‘right’ to affordable/free health care, Social Security, Welfare as a safety net.
They are NOT going to just give this up, and lay down in peace with their fellow “racist, bible-thumping, gap-toothed, ignorant, Rethuglican h8ters”.
That’s not who they are.
sharrukin on November 17, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Let’s unite around tearing down the progressive movement brick by brick. Tear down their media, their Hollywood, and then remove their stranglehold on our universities.
Another development that bothers me is in Texas. George P. Bush is running for office there in his first step on the path towards the Governor’s office. I’m hoping some of you Tea Party folks out in Texas oppose him lest you want another Bush in the White House.
Punchenko on November 17, 2012 at 7:19 PM
Exactly! If you want government to pay you to sit on your a$$ at home and feed you, and give you a phone — move to the state stupid enough to offer these things.
The Rogue Tomato on November 17, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Not gonna worry about another Bush in the White House. I’m worried that we’ll waste another Presidential election by putting Bush Mach III on the ticket.
86 on November 17, 2012 at 7:37 PM
Yes! The problem with the Republicans has been every attempt to curtail social spending has been framed as killing grandma and orphans by cutting spending on their programs. The message from conservatives shouldn’t be “cut this program” but “local control” of said programs. Make the case that we don’t want to destroy this program we want the people in this state to administer it, not politicians 3,000 miles away. The Democrats and their statist allies can’t argue that local control is bad- it just has bad optics.
Browncoatone on November 17, 2012 at 7:40 PM
This piece is correct. Federalism is pretty much the only thing that could save the country in the long term.
Unfortunately the Democrats view federalism as “racist,” like everything else in society. They hear the words “states rights” and start frothing at the mouth, their illusion of a 1940′s racist society come to life.
Further, when attempting a rational discussion of the benefits of federalism with a Democrat they immediately launch into accusations of conservatives trying to shut down libraries and fire departments. They can’t seem to grasp the realities of government funding/taxation at the local, state, and federal level. It’s all just “government” to them.
visions on November 17, 2012 at 7:40 PM
Well, Jeb is warming up in the bullpen.
Punchenko on November 17, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Something I try to explain (in vain) to my Leftist comrades is that federalism would benefit them, big time. They could punish job creators, punish hateful corporations, install authoritarian single-payer health insurance, mandatory electric cars, banning “icky” foods, install card check, tax-funded abortion on demand (especially in poor neighborhoods), etc.
Heaven on earth would be a reality!
visions on November 17, 2012 at 7:45 PM
With growing diversity and polarization, the only hope of saving the union is federalism. Period.
One-size-fits-all will inevitably cause Balkinization. And the way it looks now, maybe within our lifetime.
petefrt on November 17, 2012 at 7:51 PM
… and California would become a pristine natural environment as the producers fled to less authoritarian states, leaving the leeches behind in crumbling cities.
AZfederalist on November 17, 2012 at 7:56 PM
Correct.
In a word, they are totalitarians.
Rebar on November 17, 2012 at 8:08 PM
And every knee must bend.
sharrukin on November 17, 2012 at 8:13 PM
I’ve been writing about federalism as a solution to our divisive politics for a long time over at RedState and at my own blog. Click my name to read my posts on the subject.
I’m thrilled that federalism is finally starting to enter the national dialogue.
Charlemagne on November 17, 2012 at 8:41 PM