Posts in "Constitution"

Eric Sieker's picture
By Eric Sieker at 4:11PM
Matthew Malkus's picture
By Matthew Malkus at 6:57PM

Pick an Agency, Any Agency: SSA

As fiscal conservatives continue to seek avenues through which to derail the federal gravy train, it helps from time to time to take a look at the mind-numbingly long list of federal departments and agencies that are on board. Of course, this list is hardly exhaustive – just one that is publicly available – but it can certainly give us some concrete ideas on how and where to cut the spending.image

Today: The Social Security Administration (SSA) 

About: “The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time, lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940. ”
FY 2010 Budget: $695 billion in benefits + $11.6 billion in administrative costs (Source)

That's right – Social Security. The gift that keeps on giving, if you consider higher taxation, retirement ages, and future entitlements to be a gift. Social Security is the elephant in the room in American politics: everyone knows it's an issue, but no one is willing to cut. Don't you care about the poor and the elderly? We can't just kick them out into the street! Anyone who proposes the end of Social Security must be a heartless monster!


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Jeremy Davis's picture
By Jeremy Davis at 7:40PM

That Government Is Worse Which Governs Most

The popular trend in American politics is for lawmakers to live under a “government is best which governs most” philosophy. It’s easy for the federal government to perpetuate the assumption of authority when it believes it can essentially do whatever it wants.

Just recently, California Congressman Pete Stark reminded us that occasionally a politician will reveal their true feelings and tell the truth when he admitted to his constituents that the federal government “can do most anything in this country.” Unfortunately, it’s this kind of mindset that plagues so many within government and has spearheaded the total evisceration of the federal Constitution and the limits it places on Washington.

Of course, we all know too well that this is not a partisan issue. Both Democrats and Republicans over the years have yielded nothing in terms of reserve and restraint in power. By the hand of these "Republicrats," we have seen the collapse of an economy, endless wars, and authoritarian laws domestically that restrict our freedom; and all of this was accomplished via means outside of the limits of the U.S. Constitution.


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Zak Slayback's picture
By Zak Slayback at 12:55PM

Check out the Harlan Institute for Constitutional Studies

ConstitutionWe've all heard of the Cato Institute and the Bill of Rights Institute, but there's a new institute on the block:  The Harlan Institute for Constitutional Studies! The Harlan Institute, officially founded in 2009, focuses on educating America's citizenry, particularly youth in high school, of the foundations and the influences on the United States Constitution throughout the years. 

The Institute was founded by Josh Blackman, a law-clerk for the Honorable Kim R. Gibson of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Yaakov Roth, a former law-clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. 

The Harlan Institute also runs FantasySCOTUS.net, a fantasy game (similar to Fantasy Football, for example) that revolves around the Supreme Court. Participants are given points for correctly predicted rulings, splits, Justice-specific votes, and essentially play as "the tenth Justice."  A new version, FantasySCOTUS.org, is currently in the works.


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Bonnie Kristian's picture
By Bonnie Kristian at 10:50AM

Jon Stewart and Judge Napolitano on the Constitutionality of Arizona's Immigration Law

It's nice to see Stewart both expecting Napolitano to give commentary and acknowledging his differences from the standard conservative talking points.  Maybe we're getting somewhere...

Zak Slayback's picture
By Zak Slayback at 10:40PM

America's Future Is in Good Hands

ConstitutionA recent article written by Dr. Jason Ross of the Bill of Rights Institute outlines his reasons for believing that America's future is in good hands.  Our generation should be the generation to put this nation back on track...or at least, that's what I seem to get from Dr. Ross's article. It is truly inspiring and brings some more hope back to my heart. If we can't get a whole generation of liberty-minded individuals, perhaps we can get a generation of civic-minded individuals. After all, ignorance isn't bliss.

Dr. Ross and the Institute work hard to bring a developed understanding of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the founding to students and teachers across the nation. The institute is a strategic partner of Young Americans for Liberty.

Adam Fowler's picture
By Adam Fowler at 11:08PM

The First Amendment and Private Property

A story from OneNewsNow recently reported that the Pacific Justice Institute is suing a California shopping mall for what it believes to be a violation of constitutional freedoms. The alledged violation is that a mall policy bans the following:

... anyone [from] ever sharing their faith or political views with anyone else in the shopping mall at any time if they did not know that person prior to entering the shopping mall.

The story also reported that the mall had rules banning individuals from "wearing any clothing that displays religious or political messages."

The problem with this argument is that the First Amendment, coupled with the Fourteenth Amendment applying much of the Bill of Rights to the states, prohibits the federal and state governments from abridging political speech or prohibiting religious freedom. It says nothing of private individuals or mall owners who have their own ground rules for individuals wishing to enter their property.


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Ryan Gilroy's picture
By Ryan Gilroy at 1:39PM

I never knew that...

Article II of the Constitution is very simple.  It defines nature of the United States presidency.   Even though the government has obviously long overreached its constitutional limits, I think you'll notice a problem with this American History Museum display which depicts the supposed powers of the god-king president (click on the image for a larger view):

Interesting Title...

I now know why my former associate during my Leadership Institute internship called the exhibit a "political correct nightmare." 

Bonnie Kristian's picture
By Bonnie Kristian at 10:22AM
Seth Mann's picture
By Seth Mann at 12:06PM

Freedom Watch: Who Killed the Constitution?

From Andrew Napolitano's excellent show, Freedom Watch: