Friday, April 10, 2015

External Issues, and the United States Constitution

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The fear of a central government intruding upon local issues and rising to become a tyranny concerned Thomas Jefferson. He suggested that a revolution may be needed at least once every twenty years to correct tyranny. The way to avoid such a grim requirement would be for the people, through their States, to be eternally vigilant in maintaining the foundation of the United States Government in a manner consistent with how the system was originally intended as per the United States Constitution.

The Constitution was written from the point of view of the several States. Original Authority over all powers were enjoyed by the States prior to the writing of the Constitution. A central government, however, was needed for the handling of external issues, such as common defense, trade, and treaties. Internal issues would continue to need to be administered by the States at the local level. To ensure compliance by the federal government, a central system many of the framers of the Constitution viewed as potentially tyrannical, the authorities granted to the new government were few, and only expressly given. All other powers were reserved to the States.

By handling external issues, the federal government was expected to tend to matters that the individual States may not be able to handle without the benefit of the union. Under the Articles of Confederation, the government was too weak to even field an army in case of invasion, for example. The federal government was also given the authority to borrow and tax, so that it may fund common defense, and other authorized federal functions. When local issues are overtaken by a centralized authority, the danger of the central government becoming a tyranny arises. A proper application of government, limited as originally intended by the Constitution, ensures the protection of liberty, and the protection of the rights of the people.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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