I've been thinking about this a bit. One thing that has already been said: We didn't fight the civil war to free the slaves, we fought the war to keep that territory under our control.
The other part about this: Ever since states that wanted to leave were subdued by force, the states rights that were set up in the Constitution (you know, EVERYTHING else that was not specifically named in the constitution as a federal prerogative?) have been being eroded. We've been losing just about all local self-determination, in favor of letting Washington make decisions for everyone.
That amounts to rule by the majority, which is nice when it ends slavery, but what are we going to do if it means the majority (or some republican-ruled congress) gets to decide there will be bibles in all the schools, abortion is illegal, and gays can't marry anywhere? If there were more states rights, we might have to move to a state we liked better- but with everything determined by a strong central government, there is noplace else to go.
I'm not saying restore slavery, but a little more self-determination and everyone might not take the national contests as though they are fighting for their way of life against evil opposition.
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Date: 2004-11-10 08:08 am (UTC)The other part about this: Ever since states that wanted to leave were subdued by force, the states rights that were set up in the Constitution (you know, EVERYTHING else that was not specifically named in the constitution as a federal prerogative?) have been being eroded. We've been losing just about all local self-determination, in favor of letting Washington make decisions for everyone.
That amounts to rule by the majority, which is nice when it ends slavery, but what are we going to do if it means the majority (or some republican-ruled congress) gets to decide there will be bibles in all the schools, abortion is illegal, and gays can't marry anywhere? If there were more states rights, we might have to move to a state we liked better- but with everything determined by a strong central government, there is noplace else to go.
I'm not saying restore slavery, but a little more self-determination and everyone might not take the national contests as though they are fighting for their way of life against evil opposition.