As a matter of fact, the highway system was built under the authority of two items in the constitution. Interstate commerce and national defense. Ike had experienced the nightmare of military logistics in the US and believed that an interstate highway system would cure that.

 

I'm not certain, but Ike's use of the interstate commerce clause probably benefitted a great deal from the FDR-era court's vast expansion of what the government was allowed to do under the commerce clause.

Is there anything in there about interstate highways or schools that sure have made our country and lifestyle better?

 

I don't know of too many federal schools. Local schools, yes, funded by local taxes.

 

(Local, meaning city, county, sometimes even state. But I don't think it's the federal gov'ernment's responsibility to run schools)

I don't know of too many federal schools. Local schools, yes, funded by local taxes.

 

(Local, meaning city, county, sometimes even state. But I don't think it's the federal gov'ernment's responsibility to run schools)

 

And federal money.

 

Using your logic, I don't know any state schools, either.

What is the solution? Get rid of Federal Taxes? Where does the funding come from for such things as the salaries of our elected federal officials? National Security? Without federal monies, what happens to states budgets? To local budgets?

And federal money.

 

Using your logic, I don't know any state schools, either.

 

Only because that money was forcibly taken from taxpayers, and then dangled in front of schools. It doesn't have to be that way.

Only because that money was forcibly taken from taxpayers, and then dangled in front of schools. It doesn't have to be that way.

 

It was never forcible taken. We live in a democracy, work to get the no tax guy elected. We volentarily give over some power to the government as part of the social contract and we elect representatives to do the work that WE ask them to do. Step away from the hyperbole ledge.

Is there anything in there about interstate highways or schools that sure have made our country and lifestyle better?

 

The Interstate System was created by a defense bill so troops could be moved from one part of the country to another in the event of war. Schools, according to the 10th Amendment, are the responsibilty of the states.

All good points.

 

But are you arguing that as the country gets bigger and communication gets better, more power needs to be centralized? I think it makes more sense to micromanage. The states are very different and haven't different needs, which need to be handled differently each one. If anything, the Federal government should subsidize more to the state governments.

 

So wrong. Micromanagement is a system for failure. Are you saying the American people are too stupid to live their own lives? Which is what the elitists of this country believe, those bible-gun clingers are not smart enough, so the elitists need to micromanage the average citizen life.

What is the solution? Get rid of Federal Taxes? Where does the funding come from for such things as the salaries of our elected federal officials? National Security? Without federal monies, what happens to states budgets? To local budgets?

 

Reduce Federal taxes for all and people have more money to spend, to buy and businesses expand. More profits and tax collections actually go up. Plus, if a state wants to, they can raise their taxes, because the federal beast has reduced its taxes. The Feds then can reduce government to its Constitutional delegated powers.

So wrong. Micromanagement is a system for failure. Are you saying the American people are too stupid to live their own lives? Which is what the elitists of this country believe, those bible-gun clingers are not smart enough, so the elitists need to micromanage the average citizen life.

Not what I was implying. I was implying that each individual state can govern itself better than the federal government can balance all the demands of all the states, which differ from each other geographically, demographically, etc.

I'm not certain, but Ike's use of the interstate commerce clause probably benefitted a great deal from the FDR-era court's vast expansion of what the government was allowed to do under the commerce clause.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where the idea of regulating interstate commerce by the Federal government came into play? I don't think it is a bad thing, believe it or not.

What is the solution? Get rid of Federal Taxes? Where does the funding come from for such things as the salaries of our elected federal officials? National Security? Without federal monies, what happens to states budgets? To local budgets?

Eliminate a large, large amount of Federal government programs. If you want the play-by-play, I can give it you, but I haven't had a chance to do the in-depth reading that I plan.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where the idea of regulating interstate commerce by the Federal government came into play? I don't think it is a bad thing, believe it or not.

 

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the United States:

 

The Congress shall have the Power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"

 

This is what is commonly referred to as the "Commerce Clause." To discuss the evolution of what "among the several States" actually means and its evolution over the 200+ years since the Constitution was adopted has taken up more legal treatises and articles than you could shake a stick at. I don't know if that's what you wanted to hear, but I'm sure Wikipedia has a Commerce Clause article that would be a good start.

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the United States:

 

The Congress shall have the Power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"

 

This is what is commonly referred to as the "Commerce Clause." To discuss the evolution of what "among the several States" actually means and its evolution over the 200+ years since the Constitution was adopted has taken up more legal treatises and articles than you could shake a stick at. I don't know if that's what you wanted to hear, but I'm sure Wikipedia has a Commerce Clause article that would be a good start.

 

 

What if the three of us shook sticks at it? Lord knows there are plenty available in Louisville right now. :banana:

So wrong. Micromanagement is a system for failure. Are you saying the American people are too stupid to live their own lives? Which is what the elitists of this country believe, those bible-gun clingers are not smart enough, so the elitists need to micromanage the average citizen life.

 

I don't know if this is a new idea though.

 

Would you call the founding father's elitists because they chose to have the President chosen by an Electoral college rather than a winner of the popular vote?

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the United States:

 

The Congress shall have the Power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"

 

Lets travell down to the end of Article I, Section 8 for the answer:

 

(Congress has the authority) "...To make all Laws which shall be neccesssary and proper for carrying into Execution the foreegoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Goverenment of the United States, or in any Department of Officer thereof."

 

This is generally called the elastic clause of the Constitution. If the laws that Congress enacts are consistent with the powers that they are given(and subsequently through the interpretation of the Supreme Court), they are allowed to do so.

 

Example: In Article I Section 8, Congress is given power over all Legislation and Cases in the District that is the seat of the US Government(Washington DC). Nowhere does it mention the power or ability to establish a local government for the City of Washington DC, but in 1967, Congress did just that due to power given it by the Elastic Clause.