I think giving power to the individual state makes the residents of that state feel more secure about the desicions being made there but I also think giving them more powers will make our states less united because we would not all function under similar laws which will drive states apart. Do you think it is better to give more power to a central government or to the states?
2007-07-21 16:58:10 · 9 answers · asked by Lindsey G 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It might, but the issue of states rights was set pretty solidly back during the Civil War. Since they were using states rights largely to support SLAVERY, you can see why it would be, but still... precedence was set. We're not in a country that values the Union over the individual states.
2007-07-21 17:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by Vaughn 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The federal government needs to be limited to the powers granted to it by the Constitution. The Constitution gives the federal government as much power as it needs. By giving more power to a central government, we not only infringe on state's rights but individual rights as well. Good examples of this are things like the 1933 Wars Powers Act, Patriot Act and Real ID Act.
2007-07-22 00:26:32 · answer #2 · answered by j 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. My Virginia ancestors fought and died for this principle against what they saw as Federal Absolutism. And you know my Confederate ancestors were not completely off base.
My own beliefs now follow:
As citizens, we should pay no Federal Income Tax, but instead a much more significant State Income Tax. Each state would then pay the Federal Government a % of the monies raised for those things were are Federal in nature. Everything else would be provided by your state. Your Congressmen and Women and your Senators would not be Federal Employees. They would in fact be employees of the states which they respresent. They would receive their compensation and benefits from their state. No more voting benefits for themselves...nope their constituents back home would see to that.
We fought a revolution based on representative government and yet we now a Federal System where our representatives no longer listen to us...but instead to the carpet baggers of our era...Special Interest Lobbyists.
The States need to step up and take back what was guaranteed them by the Constitution.
2007-07-22 00:20:01 · answer #3 · answered by KERMIT M 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it would give me a feeling of security to have more local government having the power the central government seems to have because the elected people would be more accessible. I am all for a collection of states with connection to each other for REAL issues of self defense as well as many other issues....but it seems the central government controls whether our children are ours or theirs. if the feds can call for war without ratification of the states, then we are living in something other than what the founding fathers created
2007-07-22 00:35:49 · answer #4 · answered by Ford Prefect 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The constitution is the umbrella under which our government works, and where our rights and freedoms come from. Giving more power to the states for things like civil rights would cause enormous disparities and injustice.
Conservatives use the states rights argument to try and remove civil rights (gay marriage is a fine example, as was slavery) while progressives wish to expand rights. It's best to go to the source - the constitution in this case - if you are one of the latter.
*ruth says it's "popular". Among who hon? Can you back that up with anything besides an opinion? No you can't because it's another lie.
2007-07-22 00:04:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
There shouldn't be any state-government except reps in Congress, that way the state-government can be made more-real. Run by money (or something like it.)
2007-07-22 17:19:02 · answer #6 · answered by Uncle MythMan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or to the people" - 10th Amendment to the US Constitution.
This is a union of sovereign states. Hence our full name, the UNITED STATES of America.
The states should have a lot more power than they currently do.
.
2007-07-22 00:10:49 · answer #7 · answered by Chad 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It is a currently popular position to favor states' rights over a central government. This is also a Republican position, which people often mistakenly credit Clinton for implementing.
ADDED: Another lie? I believe this asker is a moderate-leaning Democrat, Argle.
2007-07-22 00:37:30 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I believe in states rights and that we do not need to lose anymore of them to the Federal government.
2007-07-22 00:10:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋