I wish the Republican Platform was binding.
Why? Because the GOP, for all intents and purposes, has just proposed to eliminate the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health and Human Services, along with a host of other government programs, agencies, and departments.
More specifically, they endorsed the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which means they put themselves on record in favor of getting rid of all federal spending and intervention that is inconsistent with the Founding Fathers’ vision of a limited central government.
Here’s some of the story, as reported by The Hill,
All federal spending should be reviewed to ensure powers reserved for the states are not given to the federal government, according to the GOP platform approved Tuesday. The platform language is meant to ensure all federal spending meets the requirements of the 10th amendment, which prohibits state powers from being given to the feds. “We support the review and examination of all federal agencies to eliminate wasteful spending, operational inefficiencies, or abuse of power to determine whether they are performing functions that are better performed by the States,” the platform reads. “These functions, as appropriate, should be returned to the States in accordance with the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
For those of you who don’t have your Cato Institute pocket Constitutions handy, here’s what the 10th Amendment says.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
In other words, the 10th Amendment is basically a back-up plan to re-emphasize that the federal government was prohibited from exercising power in any area other than what is specified in the enumerated powers section of Article I, Section VIII.
And if you look at those enumerated powers, that pretty much invalidates much of what happens in Washington.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Republican platform will have less impact on a potential Romney presidency than this blog. In other words, Republicans don’t intend to live up to this promise. Heck, they don’t even know that they have such a position. That’s why I included the asterisk in the title and must draw your attention to this fine print.
*Offer not good when GOP holds power.
But I suppose it’s good that they included this language in the platform, even if it’s merely empty political rhetoric
P.S. If they did abide by the 10th Amendment, it means that Obamacare also would be repealed.
P.P.S. Yes, this implies limits on democracy. Our Founding Fathers, contrary to E.J. Dionne’s superficial analysis, were opposed to untrammeled majoritarianism and wanted to make sure 51 percent of the people couldn’t vote to rape and pillage 49 percent of the people.
[…] Republicans Endorse Platform Language to Dismantle Most of the Federal Government* […]
[…] the GOP’s supposed belief in the Constitution and limits on the role of the federal government, there are plenty of […]
[…] Republicans have actually endorsed language implying that most of the federal government should be dismantled. I wish they were […]
[…] the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Agriculture and other agencies as was proposed by ranking Republicans in the US House of Representatives. Donald Trump is in full lock-step with […]
[…] the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Agriculture or other agencies as was proposed by ranking Republicans in the US House of Representatives. Instead, the Department of Homeland […]
[…] Though Republicans also don’t really understand what the Constitution […]
[…] Though Republicans also don’t really understand what the Constitution […]
[…] They probably don’t realize it, but Republicans actually came out against marjoritarianism in their party […]
[…] Republicans Endorse Platform Language to Dismantle Most of the Federal Government* […]
[…] They probably don’t realize it, but Republicans actually came out against marjoritarianism in their party […]
[…] Republicans Endorse Platform Language to Dismantle Most of the Federal Government* […]
Eliminating departments that are not in the constitution is a must.
[…] They probably don’t realize it, but Republicans actually came out against marjoritarianism in their party […]
snip snip…pocket, not picket…
I happen to have my pocket Cato published constitution nearby. What I would like to see followed up with is the Federalist Papers #55 where in it is stated that no two-year term could come up with men who would recommend themselves for election with a plan of tyranny that goes unanswered by the states. 2010 said no, may 2012 say hell no.
It is crazy…
Meaningless fluff damn was hoping this was true and would actually happen. elimanating this agency’s would be great.
No, the GOPdid not “go crazy”!
I think the GOP went crazy.