The Tenther Grapevine
“To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions [is] a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have with others the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps. Their maxim is boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem [good justice is broad jurisdiction], and their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control. The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots. It has more wisely made all the departments co-equal and co-sovereign within themselves.”
—Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820. ME 15:277
Michael Boldin [send him email] is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center. He was raised in Milwaukee, WI, and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Follow him on twitter - @michaelboldin - and visit his personal blog - www.michaelboldin.com
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Michael, it is my fervent hope that you turn your attention to the issue that transends all of this - jurisdiction. Just as your quote from Jefferson touches upon, these elected officials think their authority extends to each and every corner of our lives...while the opposite is correct. Lets begin to expose the true nature of "Jurisdiction" as understood in 1789 and educate everyone on the how's and why's of the term. After that, most of these arguments and positions will become very clear!
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