To the State governments are reserved all legislation and administration in affairs which concern their own citizens only, and to the federal government is given whatever concerns foreigners or the citizens of other States; these functions alone being made federal. The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government; neither having control over the other...--Thomas Jefferson
This is probably going to turn into a very long blog, but I hope it gets read anyway.
First a course correction. Many of us learned and are still taught that separation if powers is what keeps the different branches of the government in check. I was taught this all they way through college. This is an error. Separation of powers is primarily concerning the division of power between the individual states and the federal government.
This separation of powers or division of sovereignty between the federal and state governance is vital to the proper function of this Republic. Consider the following law dictionary definition of state sovereignty:
State sovereignty is defined as the "supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power by which an independent state is governed and from which all specific political powers are derived; the intentional independence of a state, combined with the right and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign interference."
Such separate but equal sovereignty has been eroded over the last century as the Federal machinery has voraciously nibbled away at it. As we, have allowed the Federal machinery nibble away at it. Yep, this erosion is on each and every one of us. AND we have the power to stop it in its tracks.
The Power of the Federal Government begins and ends with federal funding. It is time that we the people just say no to the funds. Likewise we need to elect officials that also say no to the funds. We need to dismiss non-elected officials who take federal funding.
We have allowed ourselves the luxury of accepting what appears to be help from the Feds, when in reality, the value of the money rarely outweighs the cost of administering the funds and never benefits state sovereignty.
It's time to say an emphatic NO to all federal dollars and YES to true separation of powers. For in this inspired concept does our true freedom reside. It really is that simple.
