Freedom's Charter with Scott Ott: Chapter 15 -- Madison was Wrong, Pt.1

In this special Freedom's Charter preview: James Madison devoted two full essays in the Federalist Papers to laying out the various ways that the proposed Constitution would protect the states from an over-reaching Federal government. But as Scott Ott reveals, Madison didn't seem to anticipate that the biggest threat wouldn't come from Federal bullies with bullets, and that the states might voluntarily surrender their sovereignty.

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• united states
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[ObiWanShinobi1]

@Siegetower Texas had a tourism ad a few years back because of their geographical diversity "It's like a whole other country" (it was once). It would be interesting to see - the state is as populous as Canada, Bigger than France - and exceptionally Un-French.

[ObiWanShinobi1]

I did some checking a while back on the 16th amdt. - there was a supreme court ruling that the amendment granted the federal government no new powers of taxation (sorry, I don't have the citation, and it's a bear to find - oddly - the supreme court's website doesn't display opposing opinions chronologically - or at all - they're farmed out). I wouldn't suggest following the supreme court's ruling though - unless you're prepared for the (unconstitutional) consequences.

[zvi303]

@madmath1 No, there was no income tax. Also, it appears that the ocnstitution evisioned a deecent standaing NAvy, but not a large Amry. However, this was found to be lacking during the war of 1812.

[zvi303]

To be fair, almost all civil and criminal law is state.

[zvi303]

@AlexanderEBott Well, then amend your state constitution.

[DuaneEH]

Well, now that we're in this leaky boat together, at least we can all be grateful that we have nothing to fear from an all-seeing, all-encompassing, all-powerful Federal government. It's not like there is One Supreme Leader who regularly ignores the Constitution, who relies on essentially government-controlled media spewing pro-Supreme Leader propaganda and hateful smear campaigns to harm his enemies. If THOSE things were happening, we'd all be in big trouble. Lucky for us, huh?

[ScrappleFace]

@AlexanderEBott You're correct, and if I ever get to do a series on a state constitution, I'll note that. [Scott Ott]

[Siegetower]

I'm not American. Here in Australia there was a push around the 1920's for the State of Western Australia to seccede from the Commonwealth. It didn't happen but they still joke that it can happen and it's always in the back of the minds of Australians with an interest in our own Constitution.

I wonder as an outsider what would happen to the US if Texas and Arizona secceded. Ever since that TV show Jerico explored issues of corrupt government, I've wondered, would you all be better off like that

[AlexanderEBott]

unconstitutional on all levels. The general attitude and spirit of the constitution and declaration of independence, that of individual rights, was great. But the constitution was flawed. It allowed for regulations. What should be pushed for is a constitutional amendment or complete revision so as to be more clear that all levels of government are restrained. 

[AlexanderEBott]

I think this video misses one key issue. The states ought to be as limited as the federal government. It is absurd to think that somehow when the states expropriate your wealth it is somehow legitimate.

This is what the Civil War settled, states do not have the right to allow slavery.

This is one of the key platform issues that ruins the legitimacy of the conservative movement. It should concentrate on combating government controls at all levels on the principle that it should be...