Is Federalism obsolete?

I throw this idea out there for posing and general debate.

So much has changed, even in my lifetime, that it's very hard to sort it all out and come to some conclusion.

The only life experience that I can use as a weak analogy would be considering divorce. A time of confusion, uncertainty-both in what's going on currently and what the future holds- and fear for my daughter and her family....what their future holds.

If I could, I'd turn back the clock and fix our more obvious mistakes. I can't. No one can.

Many have concluded that neither political party is capable of finding solutions that the other side can abide-I reject the premise that "others" are responsible as it seems to me to be a cope-out of our own culpability-and the growing Tea party/Libertarian views are also incapable of any more than a brief check in the downslide...at best.IMO.

If the federal gov't is no longer functional and being highly unlikely to be fixed, is not least damaging course of action to just toss the concept of a federal gov't into the trash bin?

Yes, there are downsides to this, yet, even in my life the number of nations has, what, doubled? It seems to be the world trend.

What of the Constitution without the Union-and it's cancer(?), the federal gov't? How about some number of states that are so inclined forming a smaller union...retaking "their vows".Edit: I refer to the Constitution. Those not so inclined can go their own route, individually or forming their own new nation.

After all, this nation is based on an idea, not a location.

There is an almost mind-warping love by many of this nation. What it stands for. Is love not also blind? Or at least myopic?

Having said that, I hope you can convince me I'm wrong...it won't be easy.

reply to post by nwtrucker


I think when you look at any form of government or any idea....if you theoretically place the entire structure with benevolent people....it would work....

I you take the same idea and place malevolent people in just a few places the idea or form doesn't work.

So until humankind changes...nothing will ever work.

Nopers, no trash for the federal government.

"We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Dunno about you guys but I consider that an executive order from 16.

reply to post by nwtrucker

The only life experience that I can use as a weak analogy would be considering divorce.

Then using that divorce analogy I see it something like this.

Your coming off a bad relationship with King George and meet Miss Federal.
You marry Miss Federal hoping to live happily ever after.
You have a few bumps with your new spouse and then a huge fight and want to split up
She threatens to kill you, both of you take a beating but she whups you
Over the years she gets fatter and fatter and you get skinnier
In the end you are the skinny slave she is the homicidal slave driver

Moral of the story, the love is gone but she'll kill you if you try to leave. Now get back to work slaves.

reply to post by Nephalim


Sorry 'bout the delay, just got back from work.

Well, it looks to me that God may have just changed his mind about that.

If not, then the timing for some "divine intervention" is dramatically perfect....

reply to post by Bassago


Slip out the back Jack....

It' complicated, but I think a much less powerful central government and much more powerful states would be better.

We would still be the United States of America, still have a huge, technologically advanced military, and still have central intelligence agencies of some sort. We would still be a superpower but the states would be much much stronger and independent. This is where we need to go, I think. Not only do I think that, I think in the next decade, you'll see that.

reply to post by amazing

Your right! It's complicated.

Let's say, for arguments sake somewhere in the area code of an enforced 10th amendment, for starters. Senatorial elections back to the original form, so on.

What's changed that makes that a stop-gap is the split amongst the states is as sharp at the political split in D.C..

Ca.? Or.? N.Y.? Would they follow anywhere in the same vein as Texas or Utah? Nope. That split is getting wider. Fundamentally different morals and directions from each other. Under the Constitution, they'd have that right.

As a nation, we are no longer in accord morally, educationally, religiously. That is a more fundamental difference than the Constitution was designed to overcome/withstand, from what I can see.

It is trumped by both sides and recently almost daily in the name of those differences.

The collective "spirit" of the nation is broken. Perhaps beyond repair.

Sure there are millions upon millions who would deny that to their graves. The individual spirits of many remain unbroken. The collective one? D.O.A.

Dissolving the union may allow those kindred souls to unite and form a newer, yes, wiser union that carries forward the tenets of the Constitution unimpeded by those who find it "inconvenient". Perhaps even to new heights.

As it stands now, the great document is about respected and valued by those in power as much as a T-Bill.

reply to post by nwtrucker


I guess not much traction on this idea. Not the most pleasant thought out there, is it?

I still view it as a "Retreat? Hell no! It's advancing to the rear!"

cosmicexplorer
reply to post by nwtrucker

 

I think when you look at any form of government or any idea....if you theoretically place the entire structure with benevolent people....it would work....

I you take the same idea and place malevolent people in just a few places the idea or form doesn't work.

So until humankind changes...nothing will ever work.[b]

edit on 23-2-2014 by cosmicexplorer because: (no reason given)

100% agree...absolutely

I am an avid supporter of Socialism and lean far left. I believe Socialism WOULD be the solution except for one factor - humans

Humans are greedy and selfish. I am becoming realistic these days to the fact that benevolence on a grand scale doesn't exist. So do I think Socialism would work with the human race as we have it? No. But then again seen our own brand of Republic fail over and over. So what you said about humankind changing first...I believe that 100%...and I don't see it happening

Overall, while I adore the concepts of Socialism I don't really see any system working with the selfish and grabby people we have in this world