The real pandemic? Out-of-control federal government. Of course this has been accelerating ever since Lincoln abrogated the Constitution and made war on states which had chosen to leave the voluntary union of states. We are long past the point where this monstrosity needs to be broken up. But today's sorrows were written in the Constitutional Convention, when the individual states were coerced or tricked into giving up the sovereignty enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation. After having won their freedom from one tyrant, they almost immediately began surrendering it to yet another.
Like previous empires, the U.S. government is on a path that will ultimately prove self-defeating. West Virginia legislator Pat McGeehan referenced that in his recent floor speech, which is certainly worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-vytc_NipQ&t=259s
The article includes Madison's famous quote about legislative authority over war-making. Here are two more interesting ones I came across:
--Alexander Hamilton: " 'The Congress shall have the power to declare war;' the plain meaning of which is, that it is the peculiar and exclusive duty of Congress, when the nation is at peace, to change that state into a state of war."
--James Wilson, as he addressed Pennsylvania's ratifying convention: "This system will not hurry us into war; it is calculated to guard against it. It will not be in the power of a single man, or a single body of men, to involve us in such distress; for the important power of declaring war is vested in the legislature at large. . . ."
I hadn't heard of Wilson before. Some background on the Scottish-born Pennsylvanian: "Wilson reached the apex of his career in the Constitutional Convention (1787), where his influence was probably second only to that of Madison. Rarely missing a session, he sat on the Committee of Detail and in many other ways applied his excellent knowledge of political theory to convention problems. Only Gouverneur Morris delivered more speeches." https://teachingamericanhistory.org/resources/ratification/people/wilson/
Daniel Webster in "The Hartford Convention" said, "It will be the solemn duty of the State Governments to protect their own authority over their own militia, and to interpose between their citizens and arbitrary power. These are among the objects for which the State Government exist; and their highest obligations bind them to the preservation of their own rights and liberties of their people."
Bravo!
I don't see the words "tax" or "debt" in here. Otherwise, great going.
Yes, the multi-trillion dollar price tag of the war on terror is certainly worth noting.
The real pandemic? Out-of-control federal government. Of course this has been accelerating ever since Lincoln abrogated the Constitution and made war on states which had chosen to leave the voluntary union of states. We are long past the point where this monstrosity needs to be broken up. But today's sorrows were written in the Constitutional Convention, when the individual states were coerced or tricked into giving up the sovereignty enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation. After having won their freedom from one tyrant, they almost immediately began surrendering it to yet another.
Like previous empires, the U.S. government is on a path that will ultimately prove self-defeating. West Virginia legislator Pat McGeehan referenced that in his recent floor speech, which is certainly worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-vytc_NipQ&t=259s
** Stark Outtakes and Extras **
The article includes Madison's famous quote about legislative authority over war-making. Here are two more interesting ones I came across:
--Alexander Hamilton: " 'The Congress shall have the power to declare war;' the plain meaning of which is, that it is the peculiar and exclusive duty of Congress, when the nation is at peace, to change that state into a state of war."
--James Wilson, as he addressed Pennsylvania's ratifying convention: "This system will not hurry us into war; it is calculated to guard against it. It will not be in the power of a single man, or a single body of men, to involve us in such distress; for the important power of declaring war is vested in the legislature at large. . . ."
I hadn't heard of Wilson before. Some background on the Scottish-born Pennsylvanian: "Wilson reached the apex of his career in the Constitutional Convention (1787), where his influence was probably second only to that of Madison. Rarely missing a session, he sat on the Committee of Detail and in many other ways applied his excellent knowledge of political theory to convention problems. Only Gouverneur Morris delivered more speeches." https://teachingamericanhistory.org/resources/ratification/people/wilson/
Daniel Webster in "The Hartford Convention" said, "It will be the solemn duty of the State Governments to protect their own authority over their own militia, and to interpose between their citizens and arbitrary power. These are among the objects for which the State Government exist; and their highest obligations bind them to the preservation of their own rights and liberties of their people."
Great article!
Thanks, Dan, and wow, that's truly a gem of a quote.