Archive for January 2011
Mickey Mouse and Nick Meet at Epcot
Check this out !!! It’s really cute. I was messing around with the slow motion feature in my video editing software.
The Repeal Amendment
This is part 3 of a series of discussions designed to point out the fallacies behind some modern Amendment ideas. As the drive towards a Constitutional Convention heats up, it is a good idea to examine the many Amendment proposals that are being discussed. The Repeal Amendment is being offered in response to legislation which is both wildly unpopular and places hardship upon the states. ObamaCare was a driving force behind this and Real ID plays no small part.
The Repeal Amendment states:
Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed.
Although the Repeal Amendment seems like a healthy attempt to wrest usurped power from the federal government and return it to the sovereign states it is flawed in that it serves to undermine the proper role of the federal government. It would actually reintroduce some of the weaknesses that were discovered in the original Articles of Confederation.
Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution contains a list of enumerated powers that the states established within the federal system. These powers are rightly exercised at the federal level. Unfortunately, the Repeal Amendment makes no provision to safeguard those powers and so it introduces a line of separation of powers which will move with the whim of the states.
What is needed is for the States to stand up and enforce the Constitution as it was written. They must make their case when the general government extends its legislative power beyond the clearly defined enumerated powers in the Constitution. Nullification is the best remedy when the federal courts sanction usurpation of power by the executive and legislative branches. Nullification is the concept that the states refuse to enforce a federal law within their jurisdiction.
A future blog will cover the concept of Nullification also known as interposition and the arguments for and against the supremacy of the states. It should be noted that these problems have been greatly exacerbated by the 17th Amendment. A repeal of that amendment would also serve to restore the federal system as originally intended. It too shall be covered in a future blog.
Camp Constitution’s Summer Family Camp in Rindge, NH July 9-15
Man Dunks Himself In Hoop
This is Incredible !!! I can’t add anything to this video. Give it a watch.
Balanced Budget Amendment: Be Careful What You Wish For
This is part 2 of a series of discussions designed to point out the fallacies behind some modern Amendment ideas. As the drive towards a Constitutional Convention heats up, it is a good idea to examine the many Amendment proposals that are being discussed. No one wants to see balanced budgets more than I. Just be careful what you wish for.
Without exception, every balanced budget amendment proposal I have seen has included built-in loop-holes to allow our legislature to circumvent the requirement. I suppose that’s to be expected in today’s short-sighted world. Every year a new budget is proposed and passed and in every instance the Congress can balance the budget with a simple majority vote. It never happens. I don’t believe an amendment will change that.
I have two great reservations about a balanced budget amendment.
Reservation #1:
There are two ways to balance a budget. First, cut spending. I assume that this is what most Americans would like to see. Second, raise taxes. Let me ask you a simple question. If Congress were under mandate to balance the budget today, which method do you think would be most likely to be used?
Reservation #2:
The frustration of the American people over the budget issue is being used to fuel a call for an Article V Constitutional Convention. The risk of doing so is hardly worth it. Especially since the outcome of a balanced budget amendment is likely to result in higher taxes and a still unbalanced budget. As soon as taxes are raised sufficiently to bring the budget in line, a war or similar crisis will result in the exercise of whatever loop-hole is included and the debt will continue to rise.
Conclusion:
We need to be very specific about how the budget is to be balanced. We cannot expect to make real progress on this issue unless we examine the true role of Government. If we want a welfare/warfare state we will have huge debts. Let us work to reduce the size of government. Let us enforce the Constitution, our contract of government, as it is written. Let us bind men down from mischief with the chains of our Constitution.
Reference My Previous Posts on the dangers associated with a Con-Con:
https://federalexpression.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/beware-of-con-cons-state-legislators-warn-against-a-constitutional-convention/
https://federalexpression.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/danger-rand-paul-to-push-for-a-constitutional-convention-to-force-balancing-the-federal-budget/
Alan Alda: Hawkeye is 75 Whoa !!!
- M*A*S*H Dr. Hawkeye Pierce
Now I know I am getting old. Alan Alda at 75 years old. I have to say, I still love M*A*S*H. The episode where Colonel Blake wears a toilet seat around his neck after the latrine blows up might be my favorite. It’s really a toss-up between that one and the one where Klinger tries to hang-glide to freedom.
