Forwarded message:

Date: Sat, 23 Aug 1997 13:48:41 -0700 From: Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com> Subject: Re: lack of evolutionary pressures (was Re: An end to "court (fwd)

So we are all in agreement: when I mentioned Norplant briefly being a precondition for receiving welfare benefits, I was talking about a example that I recall to have occurred in a single state. [I can't remember the state. Anyone?] It appears you agree that States are allowed by the US Constitution to impose such requirements, subject to the state's own constitutions.

No, I would say that I at least am not in agreement. The US Constitution doesn't allow the states anything, it DOES delineate the duties of the federal government. The federal government does not own the states any more than it owns the citizens. In other words, the states don't need the federal governments permission to carry on their day to day activities within their boundaries. ARTICLE 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. The problem I see with your thinking is one of heirarchy which is not what the Constitution is about, it is about how to carry on the business of running a democratic government that involves equals with clearly dilineated duties for the systems and rights whose expression is outside the domain of the systems that are the peoples exclusivly. Governments don't have rights they have duties which they are charged with carrying out according to their charter. People need to understand the original intent was for the state and federal governments to be on equal footing when it comes to checks & balances. The biggest disservice we do is thinking the 3 parts of the federal government are all that is involved in the checks & balances. The states should always have the opportunity to tell the feds, thanks but no thanks, within the bounds of the state and federal constitutions. Democracy as embodied in our Constitution is about the relationships between equals. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | Participation requires more than just bitching! | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http:// www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|