Getting The Constitution Right

Showdown In Switzerland

 

The recent vote by the Swiss people to ban the construction of minarets was met with the usual contempt by its governments elite class.  In many ways the United States and Europe suffer from the same pathologies inflicted from an elite class that loath their own culture and heritage.  However, unlike the United States, where elections are divorced from the making of public policy; the Swiss (at least) have managed to preserve a federal system that is actually representative of the wishes of the people.  The Swiss cantons are sovereign entities, not unlike the States of the American Union were, prior to the War Between the States. Quite apart from the recommendations made by the Swiss government, the people have voted against their elites, and instead have voted for preserving their own culture. Excellent essay by Dr. Srjda Trifkovic here.       

States Rights And The Union

One of the more troubling aspects of the mainstream American political discourse is the constant emphasis on party politics. Its as though Americans have been conditioned to believe that solutions are to be found ONLY within the political duopoly in Washington. What is often conspicuously absent from any discussion is the power of the States to check and arrest laws which they deem to be unconstitutional. This is commonly referred to as state interposition or nullification. It is folly to assume that government will somehow limit itself. Thomas Jefferson, warned that if the Federal government became the final arbiter regarding the extent of its own power, the result would be tyranny. Consider that the Kentucky Resolutions state that:

"the several States composing the United States of America, are not united on the principles of unlimited submission to their General Government; but by compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States and of amendments thereto, they constituted a General Government for special purposes, delegated to that Government certain definite powers, reserving each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self Government; and that whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force:That to this compact each State acceded as a State, and is an integral party, its co-States forming as to itself, the other party: That the Government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; but that as in all other cases of compact among parties having no common Judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself, as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress."  

It was upon these principles of nullification, that the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were penned. Now it appears that more State legislatures are awakening to the dangers of Federal tyranny, and are reasserting State sovereignty. Wyoming is now the latest State to reassert its reserved powers concerning the issue of gun rights. Story here.

Counter-Jihad In The Caucasus

The EU And The Attack On Leviathan

Just wanted to do a follow up post on the controversy concerning the British MEP member Nigel Farage,  and  the new European President Herman van Rompuy.   Dr. Srdja Trifkovic, has written yet another outstanding piece regarding the recent dust up, and the attendant implications of a European super state. Story here.

Music Break

The EU: Free Speech Comes At A Price...Literally

It is always a treat to hear the UKIP MEP leader Nigel Farage speak about the current state of European politics.  He has a way of speaking with directness that few American politicians can match.   The transformation of the formerly sovereign and independent European countries into one consolidated leviathan, is reminiscent of 19th century America.  Of course, the EU has many who subscribe to the totalitarian socialist model and would like nothing more than to silence any opposition to their vision.  Now comes an official fine from the European Parliament for Nigel Farages comments regarding the former Prime Minister of Belgium. Story here.