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TONY ABBOTT is proposing a vast strengthening of federal government powers over the states in the most fundamental change to the constitution since it took effect in 1901.
Mr Abbott said yesterday that he would advocate a constitutional referendum to give the government the ability to assume any powers it wished from the states at any time.
Interestingly Australia has been drifting away from what American term state rights. The induction of GST across the Tasman is a good example of this.
It seems to me that only Libertarians leaning Americans cling to the idea of state rights. Of course Australia was still a number of different colonies up until 1901. The country naturally had a different evolutionary path to that of the US.
Perhaps a US member could enlighten us as to the level of debate in the US concerning whether or not there constitution is a blessing or something that hampers the country. I have seen the topic come up on ATS.
Originally posted by donwhite
States rights are antithetical to a united country. The two concepts are mutually exclusive. From the Swiss Federation (1815) to the United States Federation (1789) people have tried to have the best of both worlds but are at great risk of ending with the worst of each.
I thought - and people of liberal bent think - the issue of states rights was settled in 1861-1865. Our Civil War. But as I have posted elsewhere, the Union won the War and LOST the peace! Because of the dastardly policy adhered to by Southerners up here - labeled Jim Crow - I thought again, in 1954, that it - states rights - were once again discredited and would finally be laid to rest.
But it was not to be. Those people - states rights advocates - are incorrigible. They have proved unstinting in their blind faith in a cause twice rejected. 1865 and 1954. But for them, more rejection means only more effort to overcome and retain or even restore their anti-social policies.They are self-blinded to the great harm to individuals and to the collective country that their Holy Grail produced and still produces.
I'm not a "believer", as it were, but an interesting quote from Jesus is "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is Gods." My first reaction to that is "Great! Caesar gets nothing!". My second reaction is to lament that some want to give everything unto Caesar because they have mistaken him for God.
Don for the sake of discussion I have a question for you. If you had a free hand what measures would you take to deal with the issue of State Rights?
So Don in short it can be said that you would remove the need for state governments leaving only geographical boundaries ?
Oh well that only leaves one thing Constitutional Convention at Don place! BYO BBQ Bring a plate.
Originally posted by Justin_Case
Which ONE is your favorite, so far?
"Let me tell you why Governor Schwarzenegger is right. Because if he's right, every other State's gonna copy him. And, if he's wrong, every other state's gonna recruit the jobs he's lost in California to their own States.
Does number 13 on your list provide a way for the US to join the International Criminal Court?
13) To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;
Now concerning point 14 on your list. Has the use of mercenary's in Iraq fallen under the banner of a letter of marque when the practice is defended? Shouldn’t Congress and not the president have control over what happens to the detainees at Guantanamo Bay?
14) To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
Don there is some interesting reading in your last post . Although your argument that the Reagan revolution is responsible for the use of mercenary's in Iraq doesn't add up. You yourself said that civilians started working on US military bases long before Reagan took office.
Gonzales is the man who holds the record for the most "I don't recalls" answers while giving testimony.
Now for a personal perspective on the matter .The lack of state governments in New Zealand certainly doesn't equate to a lack of pride in one province. I am a Cantabrian before I am a kiwi. Its okay to fly red just as along as you are flying red and black. Patriotism extends down on then just the nation level .
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.” en.wikipedia.org...(United_States) 139 words.