Federal Power
Thomas Paine: Fear, Government Power and Standing Armies
From the earliest days of the republic, politicians have used fear to expand government power. This was the strategy the Federalist Party used to get a standing army. Thomas Paine called them out on it. The founding generation was extremely wary of standing armies....
How the Feds Have Nationalized Emergency Management
Direct funding for personnel, and equipment, along with money to address minor inconveniences like snow removal has ingratiated FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security with local public safety personnel and local elected officials. For decades, the federal...
The Federal Government is too Big; George Mason Warned Us
Many antifederalists warned us about the dangers of centralized power. And George Mason was one of the most prominent. They called this centralization of power in the general government “consolidation.” In a speech during the Virginia ratifying convention,...
Taxation: The Price We Pay…
Tax day 2021 came and went. I don’t know about you, but my wallet is lighter. As always, I had to write a big check to the IRS. I was not pleased. But shouldn’t I take solace in the fact that I’m helping create a more civilized society? That’s the mantra, right?...