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Originally posted by Marc Summers I don't understand some of your beliefs Trancer-x. States are more powerful than ever, since FDR's new deal created cooperative federalism. New federalism has enabled states to take on welfare (thanks to clinton, oddly enough), education, and taxes. Individuals are now closer to their local and state governments more than ever! The federal government really doesn't have the power that it used to have. You can throw all of the quotes, videos and wikipedia articles you want, but conspiracy theories aside, our federal government is giving more power to the states, so issues will be dealt with according to the local governments demographic.

Then why do federal judges block the enforcement of immigration laws on the state or municipal level?

Can you specifically address any of the assertions trancer-x is making?

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Originally posted by Krypton Can you specifically address any of the assertions trancer-x is making?

Can you stop holding trancer-x's hand, and let him say this himself? He's a big boy. He is picking and choosing what the issues in order to make his little "Totalitarian" paranoia look reasonable. It's ridiculous. In reality, states are more powerful than ever, regardless of the patriot act, regardless of the habeas corpus hubbub, regardless of anything our national government TRIES to do. Their are administrations, which change hands every 4 or 8 years, the legislative that changes every two years. It's absolutely hilarious to watch people crap their pants when we have a short period of time when we have a weak congress and a strong executive branch. In a few years, trancer-x will look back on his posts and hopefully laugh.

Oh, and since articles are soon to be banned from being posted without an opinion from the poster, I think quoting people and posting youtube videos without original content should be as well. This would basically get rid of 70% of trancer-x's posts.

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"You won a new refrigerator, great! Where you gonna put it?" - Tony Danza

Federal laws can override state laws concerning marijuana.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN dont argue with the yanks nutter, they know best!

I don't think you understand the significance of state powers. Eros, If you want to point out every little thing the federal government can override and continue to ignore my point, go right ahead.

I have stated, that after FDR's new deal. FDR's new deal. FDR's new deal. FDR's new deal. Am I getting through to you yet? There have been several times when federalism has changed throughout our history, the states' relationships with our federal government has been a bumpy ride. And it's OBVIOUS that our federal government has to have different powers than the states, otherwise we wouldn't be united would we? United states of America! What makes us united? A central government! The constitution, which is the floor (But not the ceiling) for state constitutions! A common currency! HOLY SHIT! OUR GOVERNMENT IS TOTALITARIAN! GOD HELP US!

Oh, the US attorneys can override the state attorney general. HOLY SHIT! IT'S A TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT! Chris Christie (US attorney for the district of NJ) is actually helping new jersey get rid of it's corruption, because our own attorney general is corrupted and won't investigate our politicians. Good can come from certain powers given to our federal government. I wouldn't want my state to be ENTIRELY sovereign, otherwise, corruption would never end.

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"You won a new refrigerator, great! Where you gonna put it?" - Tony Danza

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Originally posted by Marc Summers States are more powerful than ever, since FDR's new deal created cooperative federalism. New federalism has enabled states to take on welfare (thanks to clinton, oddly enough), education, and taxes. Individuals are now closer to their local and state governments more than ever! The federal government really doesn't have the power that it used to have. You can throw all of the quotes, videos and wikipedia articles you want, but conspiracy theories aside, our federal government is giving more power to the states, so issues will be dealt with according to the local governments demographic.

+1

Not just the states, but private corporations as well. Just as businesses are becoming more efficient by outsourcing, so is the Federal government, though a lot of it is going to US corporations. Take Blackwater for example. It's been in the news a lot lately for alleged misconduct in Iraq. But no one has stopped to ask the question of why these organizations exist in the first place. They exist to fulfill government needs that aren't politically expedient or justifiable on the public dime (ironically enough). As wars become less popular, and security issues more contested, the government will increasingly turn to privatized corporations for security -- after all, these firms are basically begging to see action. Erik Prince has gone on record multiple times asking to be let into Darfur to provide security, drawing a parallel to Rwanda, where an estimated 2000 troops with a shoot-to-kill mandate could have ended the genocide in the first two weeks.

Intelligence is being privatized, and so is security. This very President wanted to privatize social services (Social Security and Medicare). What functions are left to the state when it is no longer tasked with providing for security or the general welfare of its citizens? I don't see totalitarianism springing up from there, especially when so much of the domestic spying stuff is also being privatized.

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Originally posted by Marc Summers I wouldn't want my state to be ENTIRELY sovereign, otherwise, corruption would never end.

That's because you're from New Jersey.

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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov That's because you're from New Jersey.

And I'm from Illinois

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Originally posted by Marc Summers Can you stop holding trancer-x's hand, and let him say this himself? He's a big boy. He is picking and choosing what the issues in order to make his little "Totalitarian" paranoia look reasonable. It's ridiculous. In reality, states are more powerful than ever, regardless of the patriot act, regardless of the habeas corpus hubbub, regardless of anything our national government TRIES to do. Their are administrations, which change hands every 4 or 8 years, the legislative that changes every two years. It's absolutely hilarious to watch people crap their pants when we have a short period of time when we have a weak congress and a strong executive branch. In a few years, trancer-x will look back on his posts and hopefully laugh. Oh, and since articles are soon to be banned from being posted without an opinion from the poster, I think quoting people and posting youtube videos without original content should be as well. This would basically get rid of 70% of trancer-x's posts.

Ok, I didn't ask you to bash the poster. Anyone can do that all day. I asked you to address his claims in a specific manner. Please, I don't want to ride you like Chrles and latinlover for not addressing the arguments specifically. What don't you agree with specifically that trancer-x has said, and can you use a counter-point?

Additionally, articles and videos ARE NOT to be banned. What is being banned is posting them AS A THREAD alone without some sort of thesis, like a comment, a point, etc.

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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov That's because you're from New Jersey.

One thing about New Jersey that i haven't been proud of. I don't know about other states, but if you know the right person, regardless of whether you have any experience, you can hold an office, or a high-paying position. It's all legalized corruption! Our governor has JUST passed a bill forbidding elected officials to hold 2 offices or positions, but it doesn't apply to anyone put into office before January 2008! I know we are known for corruption, but I wonder if it's just that we don't hide it better than other states.

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"You won a new refrigerator, great! Where you gonna put it?" - Tony Danza

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Originally posted by Marc Summers One thing about New Jersey that i haven't been proud of. I don't know about other states, but if you know the right person, regardless of whether you have any experience, you can hold an office, or a high-paying position.

For example, if you're porking the governor, you can be his new security chief!

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Originally posted by Capitalizt I really doubt there will be any type of secessionist movement. Americans are too dumb these days to organize something like that. The continued decline of our educational system combined with dozens of new reality tv shows and other "entertainment" on the couch = ignorant, fat, lazy, and apathetic citizens who are not ready to take part in a violent revolution...no matter how bad things get.

This is a major sticking point in my second civil war theory. When people are fat and drugged (caffien, alchol, nicoteen, weed, coke) they are generally happy. This is a lot like the drugs used in Brave New World.

But it becomes less of an issue when one realizes that wars are fought by the active, not passive, elements of society. Those who are fat and lazy get labbled "civilians" and die from colateral damage, starvation, and disease.

The spark that will ignight a fire between the states (and/or provinces) will have to be a drastic reduction in the returns on labour. This means that fat people will be forced to do more to maintain thier lifestyle, which they won't like, or that they will simply have to accept a lower standard of living. People aren't ready to see the standard of living drop.

My dystopian future comes partly due to my observations of Chinese trade policy. The past five years have seen aggressive moves by Chinese State owned companies to secure contracts for resources on unheard of time lines, like 10 to 20 year deals. Additionally they've been actively building a blue water navy to protect thier "national intrests" (read: resource supply lines). This leads me to beleive that the central planners have put thier heads together and decided that resources are going to become scarce.

It also begs to question, who exactly do the Chinese think they need to protect thier ocean going vessels from? There are only a handful of countries with the naval capacity to do it so they must be betting that one of them might have the motivation to do so in the comming decades.

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Originally posted by Marc Summers I don't understand some of your beliefs Trancer-x. States are more powerful than ever, since FDR's new deal created cooperative federalism. New federalism has enabled states to take on welfare (thanks to clinton, oddly enough), education, and taxes. Individuals are now closer to their local and state governments more than ever! The federal government really doesn't have the power that it used to have. You can throw all of the quotes, videos and wikipedia articles you want, but conspiracy theories aside, our federal government is giving more power to the states, so issues will be dealt with according to the local governments demographic.

Do you know what Executive Orders are?