 | GenghisTheHun (177)
05/09/2006 | No one cares about federalism any more. It is almost dead. We have nationalized everything on a federal level from abortion rights down the alphabet to zoological protection.
Congess does nothing to reverse the trend and in fact increases it by passing unfunded mandates or withholding funds from states that do not enact some favored social engineering legislation such as DWI laws, protection orders, etc.
The imperial Supreme Court and imperial Presidency continue to destroy whatever federalism is left over.
The paleos are crying in the wilderness like the Hebrew prophets of old. Maybe they are the last proponents of federalism.
(1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Redoedo (41)
10/22/2005 |  Federalism seems to have lost its way in American politics, with both liberals and conservatives having abandoned it in favor of an expanded federal bureaucracy. One could attribute that abandonment to the desire to ensure the longevity of many political careers, as when programs are enacted at the federal level a wide array of federal officials are able to take partial credit for its enactment and success. Even conservatives, who shout the loudest about federalism and states rights, have unfortunately abandoned their commitment to federalism. The "New Federalism" of the Reagan era was a step in the right direction, but it has long vanished as a result of political posturing by both Democrats and Republicans. The No Child Left Behind Act is a primary example of the death of federalism in this country, with the federal government mandating various policy alterations, despite only contributing about 10% to total education spending in this Nation. Then-Gov. George W. Bush raised this point in 2000, but seems to have abandoned it in favor of a ballooning federal education bureaucracy. The attachment of various rider provisions to legislation in Congress has proliferated the evaporation of federalism, and I fear that there is no turning back at this point.
(0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | LanceRoxas (41)
08/08/2005 | Paleo-cons are surely more committed to federalism and I would have to say I fall more into the paleo-camp here. The interstate commerce clause has been distorted beyond any laughable use of its intent. Bush's biggest failures as president are his continual expansion of programs at the federal level to give us a one-size fits all solution to our problems. Though- just like libs in the past- the effort is commendable, the programs simply to deliver or will deliver what is promised- particularly in the area of education though the new NCLBA did add various incentives and performance regulations- it's better left to the states.
(5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
