Ignoring the Constitution Has Consequences
May 19th, 2010 by Timothy Pancoast
The federal government has long dropped the ball on its Constitutional responsibility to provide a uniform system of naturalization. It was too occupied providing some but not all of the benefits of being an American to those who were here illegally. All that extra work prevented them from maintaining and enforcing a uniform system of immigration that would ensure that the people in the USA are here legally. Instead of helping earnest people, willing to come to America the right way, our government is bogged down with helping those who ignored our laws and snuck into our country the wrong way.
When our Federal Government fails to perform any of the few powers and responsibilities enumerated it by the Constitution the results are painful to the American people. When our Federal Government fails to fulfill one of its duties it is typically because it is distracted with doing things that are not within its Constitutional stewardship. Such is the case with immigration.
Due to our Congresses abdication of one of its actual duties it is setting itself on tract to abdicate others. Now we have various cities and governments, especially along the west coast “boycotting” Arizona over the state’s attempt to do what is within its power to make up for the national government’s failure on immigration. Guess what? It might be called a boycott when individuals or companies choose to not do business with a private or public entity, however when governments bar business with one another that is called an embargo. The United States is facing an internal trade war and it is the Congress’ responsibility to regulate that. I thought Congress liked to regulate things, so why is it that they are so hesitant to regulate the things that they are required by law to regulate?
Article 1 Section 8 gives Congress the power “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”. We now have Los Angeles and other cities threatening trade embargos against Arizona. Arizona in turn is threatening to withhold utilities. Where is the Federal Government? When it actually comes time for them to do their job they have thus far been silent. How about doing your real job for a change Congress and regulating a little commerce? How about doing your real job and restoring some level of uniformity to our immigration system? How about providing for the common Defence of your people? How about providing for the general Welfare of your citizens, the people that legally belong here? Those are your real duties.
If the federal government would stick to its real job its workload would naturally get smaller. The problem of illegal immigration would of necessity be solved, and our state and local governments would not be in the first stages of engaging in a civil trade war. Because the power to regulate commerce between states is granted to Congress by they Constitution it is not reserved to the states, the counties, the cities, or the individuals. Neither LA nor Arizona has the Constitutional authority to do what they are threatening. However, Congress’ willful abdication of its Constitutional duty may allow them to get away with it. This Union which “We the People” of an earlier era fought so hard to make more perfect through a Constitution is falling apart because “We the People” of the current generation are ignoring that Constitution. Using different words such as “boycott” rather than embargo or regulation of commerce may mask what is happening but we are shredding the Constitution none-the-less. Far too many fail to realize that ignoring or skirting the Constitution is how you make a mess, not how you fix it.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tim Pancoast, DelawarePolitics.net. DelawarePolitics.net said: Ignoring the Constitution Has Consequences: The federal government has long dropped the ball on its Constitutional… http://bit.ly/cmYtGH [...]
It is ironic that part of what inspired the Constitution was trade wars and tarriffs between the states.
“It might be called a boycott when individuals or companies choose to not do business with a private or public entity, however when governments bar business with one another that is called an embargo. The United States is facing an internal trade war and it is the Congress’ responsibility to regulate that.”
Excellent points, Tim. And I think your term “civil war” is right on.
It is wrong for state governments to interfere with other states’ commerce. One state is not allowed to punish another by embargos any more than one state can elect to coin its own currency.
The silence and inaction from this administration is unbelievably dangerous to the unity of this nation; but, then, disciples of Alinsky adore chaos and destruction becasue they believe the system has to collapse so something radically new–albeit undefined and unplanned–can arise like a phoenix from the ashes of destruction.
You can’t expect that Pres. Obama would do anything to stop the flow of illegals, not when today he is busy kissing Mexican Presidential butt. Our current president and congress have us on a no borders path. If that happens this country will cease to exist. When you have a foriegn President telling our President that our laws are unfair to the illegals coming into our nation and Pres. Obama agrees with him, well then the end may be near.
good observations Tim. Your social studies teacher from Dover Hi would be proud.
Thanks, some of my history teachers might be proud, but I know at least two that would be so dissapointed with me. I’m pretty sure they thought they were well on their way to shaping me into the perfect little progressive. When I started to actually read our founding documents instead of just reading about them it put a quick halt to their hopes and dreams.
I agree, I don’t expect much of our current leaders in Washington where our Constitution, or borders and immigration are concerned.
Sadly Tim there are too many whack job liberals in education. I’m glad you survived with your brain intact.
40% of all government has nothing to do with the constitution.
Mike Protack
90% of conservatism has nothing to do with reality.
99.9% of “progressivism” works in an alternate reality.
The ‘federal government,’ particularly the Socialist-Democrats who want to add 30-million new voters and Republicans who want a steady supply of cheap labor for their business contributors have no intention of securing the border. Furthermore, they have every intention of giving complete amnesty and citizenship. Anybody who can’t figure that out is a blooming idiot.