American Consequences - May 2021

Biden was elected. (And I have a flock of wet hens who are also pretty mad at the Biden administration.) The Constitution contains no plans, but it does have a design. The document is painstakingly organized to create a form of government that keeps certain parts of the nation from exerting undue power over other parts of the nation. In 1788, when the Constitution was ratified, this was a matter of balancing the interests of big states with small states, northern states with southern states, and the original eastern 13 states with the nascent western states of the future. Thus, South Carolina wasn’t allowed to plan New York’s Erie Canal so that it began in Albany but went to Charleston instead of Buffalo. Today, when states themselves are of somewhat less importance, it’s a matter of balancing indignant urban self-righteousness with hinterland righteous indignation. Thus the residents of Portland, Oregon, aren’t allowed to draw up the plans for my chicken coop... Which, if they had it their way, would be solar-powered, constructed from sustainable organic materials such as recycled cardboard bong packaging, cover six acres in order to meet minimum free-range poultry-raising requirements, and contain no chickens due to vegan concerns for the ethical treatment of animals. There’s another, even more important aspect of the Constitution’s design. This is to keep certain parts of the government from exerting undue power over... the government.

Today, when states themselves are of somewhat less

The executive branch is supposed to saddle the legislative branch, which is supposed to keep a tight rein on the judicial branch... which is supposed to halter the executive branch, which is supposed to tie the legislative branch to the hitching post and so on. This “separation of powers” political horse- wrangling was an attempt to prevent the federal government from stampeding. As I mentioned, my chicken coop is rickety and a wild Biden/Harris/Pelosi herd galloping through my barnyard could trample it. Amendments IX and X in the Bill of Rights are clear on the subject of “hold your horses:” IX. The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. X. 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. importance, it’s a matter of balancing indignant urban self-righteousness with hinterland righteous indignation.

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May 2021

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