I feel that what america really needs is to weaken the federal goverment.....?

Question

......while stengthening state and local goverment. the fact is that there are way to many people in these country one centeralized goverment to represent the people. the fedeal goverment should be in charge of defense, interstate commerce and foreign realtions, thats it. the way we distubute taxes should totally be reversed. the current system allows congress to blackmail states into conforming to laws that their citizens do not want. also, as long as congress debates social issues like gay marriage or abortion they will be distacted from issues that really matter to preserve or nation. a good portion of people feel disconnected from the rest of the nation because our current goverment boils down to picking the lesser of two evils. id be willing to bet that most americans do not feel represented by either party. however, if all of our social issues where decided on a state level, then if you, for example, where pro-life but also for gay marrige you can move to a state were people...

....share your ideals. think of it as an open market for the politcal world. we are increasinly a diveded country and i feel that the best way to unite us is to allow all of us to be more directly represented

lee j.....if we alowed states to decide issues on their own, then local minorites being oppresed by local majorites could move. majority should rule. why should local minorites be able to oppress local majorites?

Answer 1

I have worked in law firms that have to understand both Federal Laws and State Laws.

The state can, in fact, take a federal law and add other provisions that apply within that federal law. The states can govern their own laws to a degree. They still have to follow the federal law, but they can apply "alterations" and additives.

A lot of people who watch those shows like Law & Order, have seen some criminal cases where the Feds come in and offer to prosecute on a Federal level, as opposed to the State of New York level. Will, that is because prosecution can be easier on the Federal side of law as opposed to the state side of law. Why? Because the state can make tougher rules for their own defense department (state attorney's office) to prosecute a defendant (criminal).

What does all this mean? We do govern on local levels. That's why it is so important to stay in touch with judicial the branch of our government, not just voting for presidents, but for Judges, also.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I've already talked a number of times in this forum about adopting a constitutional amendment which would repeal and replace the 14th amendment. This would significantly weaken the federal government, especially the federal judiciary.

Section 1 of the 14th has three consecutive clauses that are vague and have been misused and abused by the Courts so much that it makes me want to stay away from the ballot box for the rest of my life.

Constitutional law ought to constitute a set of rules so that government (the level of government being commanded) can know what it can or cannot do. Constitutional law ought to "provide guidance and discipline for the legislature, which is entitled to know what kind of laws it may pass," and it ought to "mark the limit of [the Court's] authority." (From Romer v. Evans, 1996; morally correct rhetoric but completely hypocritical in reality.)

Declare that the 14th is repealed (we obviously don't need the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sections of it any more) and is replaced with more clearly stated rules for the states to obey.

In place of the Privileges and Immunities Clause, say that states must obey all provisions of the Bill of Rights except for the 2nd, 7th, and 9th amendments, and the Grand Jury Clause of the 5th.

Clarify that the Due Process Clause means exactly what it literally says and that, as Alexander Hamilton once said, it can never be applied to an act of the legislature (or voters). The Clause guarantees fair, standard PROCEDURES, not laws which judges deem acceptable.

Clarify that the Equal Protection Clause means only one thing: RACIAL equality. Not gender, not sexual orientation, not aliens, not equality for persons born out of wedlock, etc., etc.

The Supreme Court has been at its worst when: 1) it steals Presidential elections, 2) it enforces "unenumerated rights," and 3) picks out "minorities" other than racial minorites for "heightened protection."

"The current state of equal protection and fundamental rights is a travesty. The Court has drifted between different [clauses of the 14th] in deriving these rights as if they were so many coat hooks for the Court to use which-ever one is convenient. The various standards set out by the Court for deriving these rights are so vague as to be virtually useless. ... [T]he Fourteenth Amendment remains a hodgepodge of underdeveloped ideas." -- Evan Gerstmann, "Same-Sex Marriage and the Constitution," (2003) Cambridge University Press, pp 209-210.

Answer 3

I agree. I think it would be a good thing if states came together regularly - say, every 20 years - to have a constitutional convention in order to put forth amendments, which is an action covered under the constitution. The balance of power is far too much in favor of the Federal government right now, and it will only get worse. As it is, the only other gate to having a constitutional amendment is the U.S. congress. I think it goes without saying that they will NEVER pass an amendment that limits federal power.

[edit]
I was about to say it's a suprise that I actually agree with coragryph on something until I read those proposed amendments. Some things good, some not so much.

Answer 4

For better or worse the country decided on a federalized system during the American Civil War. Prior to that the country was an association of states and the sole purpose of the federal government was to solely arbitrate interstate commerce and also for the common defense against outside military aggression. It seems unlikely that those in power will give it up, or even allow the elimination of the Electorial College in favor of a direct vote. You are free to start your own political party if you don't like the offering now available to vote on.

Answer 5

The Federal Reserve is a privately owned monetary business organization. they have managed u . s . on the grounds that 1913. they are the reason of all the upward push/bust cycles. save in concepts the first actual inventory marketplace crash in 1929? The 12 years that preceded it were finished of human beings doubtless rolling in "wealth". How about the "vast 80's" observed by employing black Monday? The fairly tense difficulty about this UNBELEIVABLY powerful crew of human beings is that we the human beings do not have the capacity to vote Ben Bernanke or any of the different board contributors out of their positions. they are all appointed. Mr. Bernanke's time period will be a lenghthy 14 years!guess who appointed Bernanke? George Bush. perhaps it really is why the very wealthy have become a lot richer and the adverse have develop into ever extra destitute?

Answer 6

I believe we already fought a civil war over that idea and your side lost.

I agree that there are problems with Congress at times, but the reason for the gay marriage thing is that legal lisences issued in one state must be recognized by every state. A gay couple lives in Mass. and gets married can then move to Florida and they are still legally married. You get issues where a single state just decided something for the rest of the nation.

Answer 7

Just make it smaller and more efficient.... the fed gov't shouldn't be stealing so much from the states and their citizens.... a big reduction in foreign aid would do wonders for the USA and the world.

YES, you have it correct.... the Federal government's blackmailing of the states should end... it should have never been allowed to start.... that crap came from the left....

Answer 8

Bad idea. Only the federal government can protect us from local strong majorities that would restrict the rights of their local minorities.

Answer 9

Sounds workable. And within the original intent of the Constitution.

Here are two proposed Contitutional Amendments which clarify and reinforce that original ideal.

Answer 10

Back in the 1860's,states tried to acheive power on their own and omit the federal government. A Civil War was fought over it.
We can't afford another one like that.