What were some of the best laws / rules that helped keep the Government smallish and kept our Republic successful for so long?
Question of the Day, Dec 9
What were some of the best laws / rules that helped keep the Government smallish and kept our Republic successful for so long?
That should be obvious.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.
Not that anyone pays any attention to that old thing anymore.
FDR began the true big gov era. Social security has assured our freedom loving demise. Government now has control of everything from education to puddle water, hang on for the ride to hell you sheeplike subjects of the state!
Oh yeah, social security has been the cancer that killed america. Ouirphuqd, congratulations, you are the stupidest person to ever post on these pages. Go away
Not really a law but when Ole Hickory threw the “vipers”, central bankers, out we actually had a balanced federal budget. Allowing the feds to run deficits leads to incredible mischief.
Without funding, government could never become as powerful as it has. Lack of an income tax & appointment by state legislatures of senators who looked out for the fiscal interests of their state kept the federal government small & starved.
The 16th Amendment (Federal Reserve, Income Tax, and IRS) created the trap, then their creation of a Fiat money in 1971 set and baited the trap, then voters elected Democrats that threw the Workers into the Liberal Great Society and Civil Riots Acts pits which destroyed America.
We should mandate that everyone in government read these cover to cover.
@ RHS Jr, you pretty much posted what I believe, except for one key change that occurred at about the same time in history. In 1913, the 17th Amendment altered the design of the Federal government more than any other Amendment, because it transferred the power of state legislatures to appoint Senators to the popular vote of the electorate.
It would be interesting for someone to do a little background piece on who and why this happened in 1913, since it was a precursor to the diminishing recognition of States’ rights in other issues.
Starfcker: check you facts, our freedoms are in demise from the boondoggle that is social security. How long will it be viable? Can you answer that question? I prefer that you go away with your premium IQ!
I’d have to say that before the last signature was signed to the Constitution, there were those intent on destroying the Constitution, or changing it to give power to the central government and not the people.
There was never any long term hope to keep government small.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say Glass-Steagel (spelling?).
Ok – I gotta explain why I said what I did before I get flamed. I know it was intended to regulate the banking sector but by allowing the banks to get involved in investment banking the door was opened for tax payer bail outs of the banks. This effectively increased the scope and power of the federal government by marrying the tax payers to the banking system. You can longer tell where the banks begin and the government/public interest ends. The water is now muddy and a fascist style banking system is no prevalent in the good old US of A as a result. My humble opinion…
Francis, I agree. Ouirfuqd, social security would be fine, if they didn’t start using it as a general welfare program (SSDI, putting foreigners on it who never paid in, etc.) And if we had kept blue collar employment here in the states, instead of stealing it and giving it to asia, it would be flush with money.
And ouirfuqd, I didn’t downtick you, not my style, I would rather mix it up.
Ouirphuqd, RHS, and Maggie have it right. Francis, I’d put the repeal of Glass-Stegall low on the list, but it is worth mentioning.
@starfucker, Social Security is a transfer payment system (i.e., taking funds from one citizen to the benefit of another). The Constitution does not allow for this. It was never intended as a general pension type benefit, and has outgrown all predicted growth and now, or soon will, be negative.
Add in military spending to the mix as well (although it does not fit in with the QOTD).
Other problems with Social Security are that it transfers massive amounts of capital from savings and investment to consumption, and because it is not privately owned and inheritable, creates government dependency. Aside from state appointment of senators, another good rule would be one representative for every 30,000 people, with the House capped at 435 it’s too easy to bribe a majority.
The question asks what are the best laws/rules. The Constitution would be incorrect as it is neither a law or a rule. Also, it would be incorrect as some of the most heinous items in it have assisted in our destruction. The 16th and 17th amendment certainly, but the 19th as well has been a huge liberty destroyer. Not even counting prohibition, which raised hell for awhile.
AP- Could you let me know your thoughts regarding the message I left you in the 8 Dec. QOD. Thanks
Rise up, we have 94 million working age people not working (paying in). There is your problem
sf, doesn’t matter how many people are not employed/not paying into SS–it’s still an unconstitutional program. Get it?
Damn, Bea, looks like you were right again! Certainly enough evidence to warrant reconsidering my beliefs about American prehistory. The list of Greek and Cherokee parallels is interesting, too extensive to be coincidence in my opinion. Yes, I do think Dutchman and bb owe you an apology.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041118104010.htm
http://dnaconsultants.com/_blog/DNA_Consultants_Blog/post/Cherokees_Spoke_Greek_and_Came_from_East_Mediterranean/
My brilliant mind says …all of the above but the main law would be the one that forbid a central bank.
The tipping point was when the nagging question of nullification/secession was settled. Mr. Lincoln saw to that by sending armies of Irish conscripts to kill, burn, pillage, plunder, salt the earth and redistribute the wealth of any States that defied him. It became national canon that States that freely joined a compact were not free to leave the same compact. After that, America became a runaway freight train with all of the car doors sealed. One big Hotel California. All of the other symptoms described above — amendments, federal programs, central banks — stem from the fact that after 1865 the national government knew it could institute anything under the sun without the threat of physical countermeasure.
#1 Question that should be asked of all candidates for Federal office; “Do you support the Constitution”. Any answers to the negative should result in immediate disqualification.
The laws that did the most harm this country are those that allow central banking. Period. Everything that is destroying this nation and the world can be traced right back to the ability to print money out of thin air.
Mike – I am also disturbed by the way the first Amendment has been used so as to allow unfettered political donations and hence the capture of the political process by corps and the extremely wealthy.