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Washington’s Bipartisan War On Federalism
The scowling face of the State
With all the talk about America’s vanishing consensus, there remains one major issue which both sides of the aisle are in full agreement: the urgent need to yoke one’s political agenda to the awesome power of the federal government.
Want to know if you can keep your doctor? What about your lightbulb? Your same-sex spouse? Your weed? Better consult with Washington.
Speaking of marijuana, greater centralization is something from which the political class never seems to age-out. From the brutal top-down logic of Obamacare to the chronic and mind-boggling incompetencies of the FBI, it’s clear that no needle will ever break the Leviathan’s back. Even simple reforms — like making taxes so simple that even employees at the IRS could do them — seem forever out of reach.
The consolidation of power in Washington has been breathtaking. It wasn’t that long ago that Americans visited our nation’s capital for reasons other than rent-seeking. But why would one visit Washington today when it is hellbent on visiting you? Even Washington-speak, long detested by ordinary Americans, is now creeping into our everyday language. Just the other day my young daughter told me how, when confronted with chopping down his father’s cherry tree, George Washington replied, “I cannot lack candor.”
If anything positive comes from the Trump presidency it’s that it has revealed DC to be a city of James Comeys. The recent mudslinging with Trump nicely illustrates why Americans loathe the federal government. Indeed, the more personal insults Trump and Comey exchange with one another, the more Americans seem inclined to believe them both. Don’t get me wrong — it’s great entertainment. I, for one, can’t wait until the Inspector General’s report comes out next month and the tantalizing possibility that it will cause deep state lifers Comey and McCabe to enter the Thunderdome. If that happens, let’s just say popcorn will not suffice…
Meanwhile, the reputation of institutions like the media continue to go down in flames by promulgating fake news and fake narratives with abandon. Did Mexico’s president really vow to build a ladder and make America pay for it? Has a court really compelled a florist to bake a cake for a photographer’s wedding? Did a California initiative overturning state forgery laws really receive 9 trillion signatures?
Then there’s our friends in Congress. Does anyone doubt that after hearing testimony from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, both houses will move to break up MySpace? This isn’t to say that Zuckerberg’s testimony won’t result in meaningful regulation: of Congress by Facebook. The only thing one can say with confidence is that will not become a nonprofit will continue to “bring the world a little closer” by selling user data to the highest bidder. In other words, when Mark Zuckerberg asks you your favorite pizza topping, he really is asking for a friend…
If the Trump era has anything to its credit, it’s this: it has revealed Washington, DC for what it is: a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.
Published in Politics
I don’t know, I think that the past 3 years has put a lot of proof behind the leftwing “Somalia” meme criticizing libertarian/minarchist economic and social theories.
Can anybody honestly not say that the internet has turned into a handful of nearly all powerful regional warlords doling out favors to favored vassals and fiefdoms while purging the disfavored? All the while managing the peace through territory understandings? Oh sure there is the wilderness with a few barbarous tribes, but come on…. And this development has been wildly unhealthy for both individuals and society in general?
Great stuff @daviddeeble! I do prefer this image though ….
The Trump era has also done a good job of outing pundits who end up not wanting conservative policies enacted. When Bill Kristol says he’ll support the Deep State over Trump, it supports the thought that instead of Democrats and Republicans, there are the parties of Washington and Not Washington.
Great post. I continue to propose that the entire Federal Government be divvied up and sent out into the 50 states, where they would have to live and work among those they would govern. Then, we could turn DC itself into a national amusement park and probably charge enough to make it turn a profit.
Great stuff as always, Dave!
I just can’t believe that Americans accept this sort of thing. It’s embarrassing.
Its the dishwasher detergent that has been chapping my rear end for a number of years now. I miss clean dishes.
Put back in what Uncle made them take out…. I use one tsp per load (works in laundry as well). About 4 bucks from any local hardware stores.
Pro tip: You shouldn’t use dishwasher detergent in your bathwater – it will chafe your rear end. And if you wash your dishes in that water while you’re bathing, you’re right, your dishes will be less clean.
Free medical advice from a licensed physician. You’re welcome. I’m here to help.
What kind of idiot judge would think that there is a constitutional requirement for this? Never mind, please don’t answer that.
P.S. What kind of great legal minds are we getting at the Federal level these days? Never mind.
Just make sure you don’t accidentally pick up the phosphate-free tri-sodium phosphate.
Quackery! What cleans my dishes should be able to clean my butt, and if my butt is chaffed it is do to my dishes being less clean!
#Layman_Logic
Your hashtag made me laugh out loud. Thank you good sir.
Nice.
Does it remove the need to prewash everything? I’ve given up on using my dishwasher because I have to get my dishes practically spotless first anyways.
This is a very interesting subject. Many of these types, in reality, love centralization and “honorable” behavior above anything else. It’s not going to work, but they can’t give it up.
Everything comes down to four things: centralization, Keynesianism, the media, and cultural marxism. Trump is a symptom, not the problem. Trump is tackling what he can, both by disposition and as a practical matter. Trust me, Reagan doesn’t matter right now.
I think this hits on the right subject. If we could decentralize actually following the constitution most issues would be fought out and paid for locally. If paid for locally conservatives would win more policy battle and truly Democrat run states would decline more rapidly and provide lessons for fence sitters in other states. We probably shouldn’t even fight over issues, rather always insist that they be returned to the states for decision and funding. But this can’t happen unless we have a Supreme Court that actually reveres the constitution. Moreover we have to restrict the Fed to currency stability, remove bank supervision and the nonsense goal of promoting full employment as part of ridding the public dialogue of demagoguery and pork fostered by Keynesianism. I don’t know how Trump plays into all of this, but his court appointments, deregulation and promotion of school choice help. Decentralization requires more thought and competence than we usually bring to these matters so education on these issues needs to be an important part of the policy debates. I don’t think that is happening now.
By we I mean our public officials, not us. It’s the citizen and think tank and intellectual’s job to talk issues because we live and work out here where reality takes place.
I think I got this from Mark Steyn. Yep, we say ‘don’t tread on me’ while we let granny from Peoria get groped by the security nazis at our airports while waving the imam and his 3 wives in full burkha right past the metal detectors because of, you know, diversity/ multiculturalism and security.
P.S. I think I could make our airports safer with a dozen or so highly motivated 6th graders.
Great post, Dave!
The last Erick Erickson Show has some brutal data on the media. There were a bunch of RINOs complaining about Trump calling the media “the enemy” a couple of months ago. I think it’s appropriate.
Nope, that is a function of the “low water use” Federal mandate for all appliances (dishwashers, toilets, washing machines). Let’s face it…. your existantance, and the conveniences that support that existence, is a barely tolerable blight to Mother Gaia. Be sure to recycle yourself when you leave this mortal coil.
A little off topic, but I cannot resist. Please tell, who created the ‘photo’ picture for this post? It is well done, and I’m just curious.
So the TSP just stops the need to postwash all the soap scum off.
Essentially correct
When Mother Gaia shacks up with Uncle Sam, it’s the children who suffer.
Well said. Agreed.
Thanks, The Hammer.
I forget the guy, unfortunately. I wish he’d copyright his work, as I do.