Federalism is a failure, no matter which party is in power (interstate, illegal)

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

I am a strong proponent of accountable, transparent, and responsible government. I wonder if we adopt the Westminster model of government could we improve our governance.

If Westminster means smaller, than it might work. The sheer size of our federal political machine is unaffordable and unsustainable. They are spending almost 1/2 of our GDP....and growing.

Even Mitch McConnell admitted last week that DC cannot control spending themselves. That implies its upto the American public to make it so.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by vegasrollingstone

Thanks to Citizens United it is legal for corporations to buy our legislators. Our government is bought and paid for by super PACS and dark money, it's utterly disgusting.



Step 1: Eliminate Citizens United!

Step 2: Enable term limits for congress and SCOTUS! Serving our country was intended by be an act of kindness not a means to enrich oneself!

Thanks for your post. Your ideas would work, but how to bring them about? I think term limits would require a Constitutional amendment. Getting that done through DC politicians will be impossible, but the States could ram it down their throats in a Constitutional Convention of States, which could be w/in reach after the November elections.

Citizens United sounds like exactly what it is NOT. I'm off to read up on those swamp creatures.

I read up on Citizens United. If I'm correct, they were trying to counter-act the dark money chanels the Dems constructed, but I may be wrong. Campaign finance reform is a topic both sides likely could agree upon, so I'll add that to the agenda of our 1st meeting

[Adhom]

What do you want in place of Federalism? Authoritarianism or 50 independent states?

[MJJersey]

Not sure we’re really discussing “federalism” here.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Just my opinion developed through 50 years of anecdotel observation...

Our federal government has us ~$30T in debt, and the interest on that debt will soon exceed national defense spending.

Thus, the Fed must artificially supress interest rates, which pushes savers into risky stocks.

The Fed is diluting the dollars we saved by printing Monopoly money.

DC raided our Social Security trust fund, leaving it underfunded.

Our citizens are more divided than ever.

Trust in government is near historic lows:

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics...ent-1958-2021/

Our government is unable to properly manage foreign immigration.

Our federal government is unable to effectively manage a national health crisis.

DC's educational oversight has underperformed.

Our federal government keeps taking an increasingly large % of our nations GDP, leaving less for the private sector to grow the economy.

Fed jobs' total comp packages are now ~1.5x higher than those in the private sector, & the gap is growing rapidly.

Most of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S. surround Washington DC

DC overreaches internationally, creating global enemies, & inserting us into senseless overseas conflicts.

The feds have allowed too much key manufacturing to be moved to China, like computer chips, meds, & Rare Earth Minerals.

I think most of us would agree with most of these thoughts.

Red versus Blue is powerfully enticing, I'll admit, but it's like re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic, & the ship's sinking...time is short.

IMHO, downsizing DC should be the mission-in-common that brings us all together again, and saves us from tyranny.

Does anyone out there believe that doing more of the same will end well?

That’s not a problem with federalism. That’s a problem with failing to properly look after it.

[albert648]

Originally Posted by Adhom

What do you want in place of Federalism? Authoritarianism or 50 independent states?

I don't want federalism replaced. I want the federal government downsized by at least 50% and 80% of its functions removed.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by Adhom

What do you want in place of Federalism? Authoritarianism or 50 independent states?

Stateism. Push the power back to the states as its supposed to be. Gut the federal gov't by 3/4th...make those parasites get real jobs in the private sector and add to GDP so we can have real growth again.

Dept of Education should be the 1st to be cancelled.

next, Dept of Energy.

Next the EPA, let the states do that.

Next, Dept of Homeland security, we have enough law enforcement already, except for where they defunded them.

NPR...defunded.

[in_newengland]

Too much greed.
Doesn't matter which party, it's capitalism run wild. Money, money, money. Follow the money.

[albert648]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Stateism. Push the power back to the states as its supposed to be. Gut the federal gov't by 3/4th...make those parasites get real jobs in the private sector and add to GDP so we can have real growth again.

Dept of Education should be the 1st to be cancelled.

next, Dept of Energy.

Next the EPA, let the states do that.

Next, Dept of Homeland security, we have enough law enforcement already, except for where they defunded them.

NPR...defunded.

Everything except for Defense, State, Treasury, Justice and Commerce should be eliminated, and the functions within the remaining 5 downsized.

[Roderic]

My list...

State
Treasury
Defense
- Veterans Affairs lead by a retired 2 stars and sit with the JCS
Attorney General
Interior
- Agriculture
- Transportation
- EPA
Commerce
Energy

From 15 down to 7.