Posted by
Civis on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:05:00 PM
I congratulate President-Elect Obama on his historic victory. Unlike the Code Pink crowd, I will respect the office of the Presidency during Barack Obama’s tenure. I am personally disappointed that voters choose federal politicians that promise us stuff rather than explain the intended role of the federal government. Those politicians generally do not get elected. The results will be increasing deficits and policies that tether us to our employers and government.
Who today has the courage to stand up for the Constitution? The Republicans certainly did not have the stomach for it. I hope these last two election losses will at least result in new leadership that will rise and be able to educate the public. That is the “Change” that I believe in. Otherwise, we will be just another European-styled socialist nation.
I turn to James Madison for an explanation of the intended scope of the federal government. I guess we have forgotten our historic aversion to centralized power. What is that saying about those who forget history.........?
Federalist #45:
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.”
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Calvin Coolidge was President during the “Roaring 20’s”, yet he is criticized for laissez-faire policies. My favorite interpretation of Coolidge comes from historian Robert Sobel. This encompasses the exact purpose of federalism. One can be a progressive at the State level, but when you get to the federal level, there is a narrow list of explicit powers.
Robert Sobel on Calvin Coolidge:
"As Governor of Massachusetts, Coolidge supported wages and hours legislation, opposed child labor, imposed economic controls during World War I, favored safety measures in factories, and even worker representation on corporate boards. Did he support these measures while president? No, because in the 1920s, such matters were considered the responsibilities of state and local governments.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge