Take Back The Power

Preface

It is the purpose of this site to convince the fifty states making up the United States of America to take back those powers exercised by the federal government but which rightly belong to the states. Foremost among these powers is the power to determine whether or not acts of the federal government are in accordance with the powers delegated to it in the Constitution (the acts are "constitutional") or not in accordance with the powers delegated in the Constitution (the acts are "unconstitutional").

Two understandings are central to our argument:

  1. The states are the boss of the federal government; and
  2. As boss, the states should decide what the rules in the Constitution mean.

To us, these facts are self-evident. Others, however, may need convincing. Fortunately, the average citizen need not brush up on "constitutional law" in order to understand the situation. Simple analogies can help us see the relationship between the states and the federal government. If you already understand (1) and (2) above, you need read no further.

Who's The Boss?

Is the Federal Government ("FedGov") the "boss" of the states or are the states the "boss" of FedGov? This question is central to our efforts here at Take Back The Power.

Visitors from another galaxy, observing us here in the USA and knowing nothing about the Constitution might be forgiven for thinking that FedGov is the boss. But shame on us, here in the USA, if we believe it too.

To understand the relationship between the states and FedGov, let's use an analogy. Let's say you designate someone to act on your behalf in regards to a complex real-estate deal and give him Power Of Attorney to act for you in regards to certain, specific matters. As regards all other matters, you retain all your normal powers.

You are the boss of your "agent" — the person to whom you granted the Power Of Attorney. If your agent begins doing things you did not empower him to do, don't you, as the grantor of those powers, have every right to prevent him from acting outside those specific areas wherein you empowered him to act on your behalf?

The Constitution is similar to a Power Of Attorney; the states created it to grant limited powers to FedGov to act on behalf of the states for specific purposes, while retaining all other powers for themselves.

Clearly, the states are the boss of FedGov. As such, isn't it really up to the states to decide what the rules set forth in the Constitution actually mean?

Conflict Of Interest

It isn't just that the states are rightfully the boss of FedGov that requires Taking Back The Power, it is that letting FedGov's Supreme Court decide constitutionality issues is a huge conflict of interest.

  • The Executive branch nominates Supreme Court justices
  • The Legislative branch gives its advice and consent
  • The Judicial branch appointees are thus beholden and sympathetic to the people who put them into power.
  • As if all that were not enough, the federal courts themselves are a part of FedGov. How is one to challenge the constitutionality of an act of the federal courts? In the federal courts themselves?

The Constitution's vaunted "checks and balances" were designed to prevent any one branch of government (Legislative, Executive or Judicial) from becoming too powerful and running roughshod over the other branches. The states are the only possible protection when Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches, acting in concert, exercise unconstitutional powers.

The states, as boss, have not only the right but the duty to restrict FedGov to its Constitutional powers.


"If you are not angry about what your government has done to you, if you aren't hot under the collar over what your government has done to others, if you're not outraged at the things your government has done in your name, if your blood doesn't boil when you contemplate what your government has in store for you, well then, you haven't been paying attention."

Warren "Mickey" Michelsen


"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under."

H.L. Mencken


"I's had all I can stands and I can't stands no more."

Popeye


"We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it any more!"

Peter Finch (as newsman Howard Beale) in the movie Network (1976)


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Edmund Burke