Interposition

In the past several decades, there have been many occurrences of the government overstepping it's bounds. Some examples of this include legalising abortion, virtually banning Christianity from public schools, billions of dollars of "aid" thrown at other nations, adoption the laws of UN as our own, the list goes on. These gross misuse of power begs the question, what can be done to stop, and even reverse this slid towards humanistic totalitarianism?

The first course of action to take in America, and one that many are taking, is to petition the government to right the wrongs they have committed. Another step that goes well with petitioning the government, is using your voice at the ballot box. We need to vote for the person, not the party. Elected leaders who will stand for what is right, not compromising just to gain power.

However, there may come a time (and it may be approaching soon), when these steps will not solve our problems. How can we reign in a federal government gone mad with power? When our representatives no longer listen to us, and the courts mandate whatever they want, what can be done? I believe that the man who founded this country foresaw that this could, eventually happen. That is, I believe, why the 10th amendment was part of the Bill of Rights.

"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."

The powers that this clause gives to the states is that of an extra layer of protection between a potentially oppressive federal government, and the people of the United States. One example of this idea being applied successfully is that of Alabama Judge Roy Moore. Before he was elected to the Supreme Court of Alabama, he was a district judge, and had a plaque of the 10 Commandments in his courtroom. A federal judge ordered it to be removed, and he refused. Upon threat of force, the Governor of Alabama threatened to defend this declaration of the foundation of law with the Alabama National Guard. When the governor interposed himself between the federal government, and Judge Moore, he defended when he knew was right against oppression. The federal government backed down, and the plaque stayed.

While I do not advocate the negligent use of this power granted to the States, I do believe that there is a time when it is necessary for the local authorities to stand up to those above them and say "this is wrong!" The local governments acting as a source of accountability for the federal government will not lead to anarchy, but to liberty.