Critics who mock us as “tenthers” because we share views identical with Thomas Jefferson repeatedly make a fatal error. They believe that we are the same as the beltway, neoconservative, GOP-loyal rightwing.
For instance, check out Alan Colmes attempt at “tenther-bashing.” His big finisher? Under our analysis, George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind is unconstitutional. Well, duh. Of course it is!
America’s most prominent constitutionalist, Ron Paul, has been critical of the federal government’s involvement in education for decades. There are serious differences between mainstream conservatives and constitutionalists on some of the most important issues of the day – namely war and the powers of the President.
Many mainstream conservatives believe in an imperial presidency embued with king-like powers which would make even the Hamiltonian monarchists of the Founding blush. They also consistently advocate for an agressive foreign policy of Empire-building completely contradictory to the vision of our Founders.
Perhaps if liberals like Alan Colmes understood this, they might take a second look at what it is “tenthers,” or more accurately “constitutionalists,” are actually saying.
Patrick D. Krey, Esq. is a freelance writer who works in the corporate world and has an M.B.A., J.D. (law degree) and an L.L.M. (masters of law) from the University of Buffalo. Patrick is also a general practice Attorney admitted to the bar in New York State. His writings focus on national issues and have been published online at JBS.org, PrisonPlanet.com, Antiwar.com, Infowars.com, The Tenth Amendment Center and in The New American bi-weekly print magazine. He has also been featured on the online radio show The Constitutional Coalition.
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[...] There’s been more and more garbage coming from the mainstream left as a direct attack on those who believe in limited government under the 10th Amendment. Here on this blog we’ve written about this already here, here and elsewhere. [...]
I should point out that it is somewhat difficult to share views with the deceased as Thomas Jefferson expired some time ago. Were he alive today it is extremely speculative to say he would share views with “constitutionalists” given the different roles government has changed to play today vs. the simplified roles it played a couple of centuries ago.
The supreme court has found a lot of what the government has going on today to be constitutional with a more modern perspective applied. Perhaps “constitutionalists” should become a justice, leave opinions on what is constitutional to the court, or devote themselves to things like a “supreme court awareness day” and telling the public how great the constitution and American government foundations are.
And I should point out to you that it is extremely speculative to say that Thomas Jefferson would NOT agree with the views of the constitutionalists of today. You assume that simply because someone is dead that we have no insight into how it is they thought. Thomas Jefferson was an extremely prolific author and orator. If you have any doubt – either way – as to how he would have leaned, I suggest that you read some of his many works. It may give some insight into the man's thought processes.
"On every question of construction, (of the Constitution, let us), carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying, (to find), what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
- Thomas Jefferson
(words in italics are mine for clarification purposes)
I have no problem with more modern application, as long as the guiding principles of the Constitution are applied, for that document says to me that the self responsibility and the rights of the people are considered to be paramount.
"If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise ans honest can repair. The event is in the hands of God.
- George Washington
Susan D. Eagle