Our country can only hope to return to our founding principles if The People, from whom all power of government flows, demand it and are vigilant in overseeing its restoration. But first, we must understand the principles and the advantages of our system of government as it was established. In a modest effort to provide some background and understanding of our Federal system of government, I have published several posts on the subject. These are meant to provide high-level overview of the original intent, structure, and advantages of our government as well as suggestions for how to restore it. I have referenced these posts below for convienience:
Balance of Power:
This post discusses the balance of power designed into our government. Not simply between the branches of the Federal government, but between the Federal Government and the States.
The Utility of Federalism:
This installment discusses the advantages of Federalism.
The Road Back to Federalism - Part 1:
Part 1of a 4 Part Series: This post covers the definition and structure of Federalism as well as some of the reasons the founders settled on this form of government.
The Road Back to Federalism - Part 2:
Part 2of a 4 Part Series: This installment discusses the negative influences of Alexander Hamilton on our history and government.
The Road Back to Federalism - Part 3:
Part 3 of a 4 Part Series: This installment attempts to broadly cover some of the major steps in our history that lead to the loss of Federalism
The Road Back to Federalism - Part 4:
Part 4 of a 4 Part Series: The final installment discusses the steps required to return our errant government to the founding principles of Federalism.
Treaties and Ambassadors of the States:
If you have any doubt about the Founding Father's intention concerning the role of the the States in our Federal government, ask yourself why the Constitution specifically spells out that the President must have the "advice and consent" of the Senate for making treaties, appointing ambassadors and the other issues spelled out in Article II...and not the House.
Why Feed the Pig:
In The Utility of Federalism, I lay out some of the benefits of the Federal form of government that our founders gave to us over the mostly National system we have now. In this post, I discuss why it is unwise to trust so much of our money, and therefore power, to the centralized bureaucracy in Washington D.C.
Budget Cuts Across the Board!
What do we do about the out of control Federal spending, mounting deficit and crushing debt. Almost everyone agrees that we must cut spending, but most of the recommendations coming out of congress have been weak at best. Every special interest group wants to see someone else's spending cut...but not theirs. The task is too large, and politically charged for our legislators to try to pick and choose which spending gets cut and which does not. And, the need for action is too important to our future. I believe that the only workable solution is to make cuts, by a given percentage, across the board...all budgets.
The National Debt in Perspective:
There's been a lot of discussion about the national debt recently. Everyone seems to have an opinion about the severity of the problem and the solutions that should be used. The root cause, though, seems to be very clear… government is spending more that it brings in.
The Ten Commandments of The Federal Government:
The bureaucrats in the Federal Government seems to think of themselves as the all-powerful and uncontested rulers of our lives. This made me wonder, since they think of themselves as god-like, what would their version of the Ten Commandments be.
Repeal the 17th Amendment:
This is a letter to my state representatives to consider repealing the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Like the 10th Amendment? Repeal the 17th!
The 10th Amendment has had renewed interest in recent times. More and more people are rediscovering the enumerated powers granted to the Federal government and realizing that it has greatly over-stepped it's bounds. Many are looking to this amendment as a remedy, believing that it is the key to reining in the out-of-control Federal leviathan.
The 10th Amendment, however, has no power if there is no one to enforce it...
Were The Anti-Federalists Right?
Why Feed the Pig:
In The Utility of Federalism, I lay out some of the benefits of the Federal form of government that our founders gave to us over the mostly National system we have now. In this post, I discuss why it is unwise to trust so much of our money, and therefore power, to the centralized bureaucracy in Washington D.C.
Budget Cuts Across the Board!
What do we do about the out of control Federal spending, mounting deficit and crushing debt. Almost everyone agrees that we must cut spending, but most of the recommendations coming out of congress have been weak at best. Every special interest group wants to see someone else's spending cut...but not theirs. The task is too large, and politically charged for our legislators to try to pick and choose which spending gets cut and which does not. And, the need for action is too important to our future. I believe that the only workable solution is to make cuts, by a given percentage, across the board...all budgets.
The National Debt in Perspective:
There's been a lot of discussion about the national debt recently. Everyone seems to have an opinion about the severity of the problem and the solutions that should be used. The root cause, though, seems to be very clear… government is spending more that it brings in.
The Ten Commandments of The Federal Government:
The bureaucrats in the Federal Government seems to think of themselves as the all-powerful and uncontested rulers of our lives. This made me wonder, since they think of themselves as god-like, what would their version of the Ten Commandments be.
Repeal the 17th Amendment:
This is a letter to my state representatives to consider repealing the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Like the 10th Amendment? Repeal the 17th!
The 10th Amendment has had renewed interest in recent times. More and more people are rediscovering the enumerated powers granted to the Federal government and realizing that it has greatly over-stepped it's bounds. Many are looking to this amendment as a remedy, believing that it is the key to reining in the out-of-control Federal leviathan.
The 10th Amendment, however, has no power if there is no one to enforce it...
Were The Anti-Federalists Right?
In a great series on PJTV called Freedom's Charter, Scott Ott has succinctly laid out the original intent of the scope of our Federal Government, and where it all went wrong in a chapter called Madison Was Wrong
Treaties and Ambassadors of the States:
If you have any doubt about the Founding Father's intention concerning the role of the the States in our Federal government, ask yourself why the Constitution specifically spells out that the President must have the "advice and consent" of the Senate for making treaties, appointing ambassadors and the other issues spelled out in Article II...and not the House.
Treaties and Ambassadors of the States:
If you have any doubt about the Founding Father's intention concerning the role of the the States in our Federal government, ask yourself why the Constitution specifically spells out that the President must have the "advice and consent" of the Senate for making treaties, appointing ambassadors and the other issues spelled out in Article II...and not the House.
United States Constitution Article I: Section 8. (The Enumerated Powers)
