I recall the legalize/not drugs debate here a couple months back, so on that issue I’d say BCers do seem to be split on the acceptable amount of govt control in our lives.

But what gives you the impression that reducing the scope and power of government (esp federal) is a minority or non-existent view here at Belmont?

From the point of view of an anarchist, I guess we would all be seen as totalitarians, but gee ….

I imagine that James Madison said as much about the men he studied in history while forming his designs of American Republicanism.

I think of Fred in those terms. He educated me more greatly with fewer words than I was subjected to in 4yrs of university.

That’s a pretty big bucket of cold water. But probably needed. Thanks.

I agree with some of your ideas, but Secession is the “nuclear option” in our politics, and few take that possibility seriously. Nor is it needed.

I’ve made the point many times, both here and elsewhere, that devolution of power back to the States should be the overriding goal of a new political movement in this country. But the country is far away from that idea, and most who are upset about the direction of the country think that a return to GOP power is the solution. I disagree with them, as well.

I’m of the opinion that, were we to have new elections tomorrow, and elect 535 Saints to Congress, we’d have about two years until things reverted back to the way they are now. There are just too many incentives for people to do the wrong thing, and many disincentives for them to do the correct thing. It’s not plausible to expect anyone to stand against this long term, regardless of their intentions when they were elected.

The only hope, in my opinion, is to reduce the number of things they have control over, but that is a distinct minority (or non-existent) view here at Belmont.

Talk of Secesssion just takes any argument that you have and relegates it to “tin foil hat” status. There will be no Sucession, and we don’t need one.

Yes! It is so big that the humongous size of the pot of honey draws flies from all over the country – heck, from all over the world. It is so big that anything can be covered up and we usually would never know, because it takes place far from us.

Devolve the powers of the federal government to the states. Close down the departments of Education, HUD, HEW, etc., etc. Let these go to the states, where they will be smaller and easier to watch.

But this would not end the power of the fed to tax – then to gobble the revenues as they choose. So – let the states seceed. No more federal power, unless we want a few functions to be federal. Like making war, diplomacy, and minimally, interstate commerce. Or some states could clump together in small republics and run these for themselves, closer to home.

In fact, there’s even an article called “50 State Secession”! At http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2008/tle485-20080921-03.html

It says that if all 50 states seceed at once (or enough of them) the federal government will have no choice but to die. No money!

After all, no matter how great a system we invent to correct old abuses, someday it will be dying of abuse too. Something about human nature. No sooner than you set up a new system, people will start trying to find or invent ways to evade the rules and game the new system. After 200 years or so, there are so many holes and tunnels and secret chambers in the old system that it can’t be fixed. Only a new one will work.

It could be about that time again.