Posted by
Civis on Thursday, April 16, 2009 7:13:00 PM
Welcome to the jungle Governor Perry. You have now raised the ire of the liberal media by uttering the "S" word. They will ignore that you mentioned it was not your preference and instead ridicule you for thinking 18th and 19th Century thoughts. What I find funny is the intellectual elite discounts the fine 18th Century thought that created this country. Is it wrong to seek a weaker central government so the States can provide the necessary services for its citizens?
The States are one of the checks on federal power. They have forgotten this role and now it comes across as grandstanding when certain politicians try to bring this back to the forefront. The threats of nullification, State petitions for a Constitutional convention to propose Amendments, and secession are tools available. The ideal scenario would be for the US Congress to honor Article I Section 8 of the Constitution. When they do not, the States have the choice of ignoring the transgression, like they have done since the early 1900s, or resisting (not necessarily with force but through public discourse).
I can never understand the left leaning people's aversion to federalism. If the federal government focused on national defense, foreign/interstate commerce, and foreign diplomacy, the federal tax burden could be eased. This would allow individual States to adjust their tax levels to provide the services demanded by its citizens. This would allow States like California to enact their universal health care while other States may value fewer services and lower taxes. Why must there be a single central authority deciding what is better for this diverse nation? I have yet to hear a valid argument to convince me that centralization is the answer.
So by all means discuss secession. Discuss the proper role of the federal government. Denounce the failures of the Republicans from 2000-2008 and the escalation of bad fiscal policy being pitched today. We were mad and felt betrayed that the Republicans increased the size of government and enacted programs like NCLB. As bad as those programs were they do not approach the deficit that this Administration and Congress propose. The current proposals are the tipping point. If the States do not lead the reasoned resistance then we might as well resign ourselves to the fate that the country will be a stagnant European style economy. The silent majority must find their voice.