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Monday, January 03, 2011

America Needs A New National Debate On The Constitution

It might seem unlikely that a lone law professor could spark a national discussion about the kind of government Americans want in the 21st century, but that's exactly what Georgetown Law School's Randy E. Barnett hopes to do with his modest proposal known as the Repeal Amendment.

Under the plan, measures approved by Washington could be repealed if both houses in two-thirds of the state legislatures vote to do so.

Incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., is among the proposal's most significant supporters, which means it will receive serious attention during the 112th Congress convening this week.

Whatever one's view of the propriety of amending the U.S. Constitution in the manner proposed by Barnett -- and for the record, we think the Repeal Amendment is a dandy way to restore the proper balance to our federal system -- the professor's idea could not be more appropriately timed. For the last decade, presidents and Congresses representing both major political parties have caused federal spending, regulation, and debt to explode as never before, with a result that the central government is in truly dire financial shape even as its power to control the most minute details of American daily life has never been greater.

This fact is central to understanding why the vast majority of Americans -- 64 percent, according to Rasmussen Reports' Dec. 29 survey -- think the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Read more at the Washington Examiner

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The States will never be allowed to exercise such rights. Honest Abe (misnomer?) already took care of that little idea in a Civil War. The States are subservient to the Federal Reserve Bank. Period. End of story.

Anonymous said...

Leave it alone or die commies !

Anonymous said...

Another example of "I love the Constitution so much I want to change it. If we don't destroy it, the enimies of freedom will!"

I really do not understand this logic. (Other than the fact that I am an Obama-bot, pinko, fascist.)

Anonymous said...

Say what you will about the current debate, but last I checked 10:01am, the civil war was fought largely because the southern states wanted to assert their "right" to take away all of the inalieable rights of a segment of the population.

lmclain said...

This idea is dead in the water. Not a chance of gaining traction. Why? Because what "we, the people" want is meaningless to those in power, be it the Congress or State legislatures. When is the last time you saw Congress enact legislation that the majority of the people wanted to see passed? PLEASE don't say "health care"...the majority clearly didn't want it and, as is being seen everyday, not even Congress knew what was in the bill before they passed it. The man is wasting his time.

Anonymous said...

12:24 PM

Actually the war started because the south was more prosperous than the north and was levied huge tariffs and taxes and stuff like that. The slavery issue didn't appear until after the war started.

Ol honest abe used that to garner more support for the war. It was never about slavery until later on.

Anonymous said...

1:21 just a few little things like tax cut extensions and the repeal of don't as don't tell, those were both largely supported by majority of the population and that was just in the past two weeks

Anonymous said...

Is that why gay marriage can't even be passed in California? The people don't want gays to have special rights.

lmclain said...

1:46...the tax cut extensions I concede. Don't ask, Don't tell? A majority of Congress doesn't mean a majority of Americans.

Anonymous said...

When did the population vote on the repeal? Or the tax cut extensions for that matter?

Anonymous said...

The Constitution isn't up for debate! Stop spitting in the face of those who died for it!

Anonymous said...

Sure thing 1:25. That must be why we had all the compromises during the formation of the original constitution, subsequent supreme court cases, and wrangling over the admittance of new states. Great revisionist history there. Slaves equaled big business for the south and the powers that be were willing to fight to keep their golden goose. Funny these same people declared how great the constitution was until it came down to their wallets.

Anonymous said...

3:45 PM

Not sure what you are trying to say. The only thing you said that clicked was about the wallet. It is ALWAYS about the money in this country.
Looks like you were trying to argue but I don't understand what you are trying to say.