Oklahoma: Standing up for State Sovereignty
13. Aug, 2008 
11 Comments
by Rich Hand
As usual, Walter Williams hits the nail on the head. This article references a referendum introduced in the state legislature of Oklahoma to put the Federal government on notice that it has over stepped its bounds based on the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The founders would have never been able to get the constitution passed by the states if they could foresee the current actions of the federal government.
They would be completely surprised at the degree to which the states have given over responsibility and authority for issues regarding individual citizens in individual states. The state representatives at the constitutional convention were passionate about state’s rights, and suspicious of any power transfer to the federal government. It was a miracle that the constitution was ratified.
The Oklahoma legislature that passed the resolution restating their states rights as defined in the constitution would be applauded by our founders. It is interesting how ignorant most of us are on the details and history of our constitution. Ignorance is the only reason we continue to accept unfunded mandates, and an over active federal government supported by an over active federal court system.
If our founders were here today, we would have had a revolution already. All of their fears have been realized. They feared too much power in a central authority. They feared that fractions would develop and control the process of government while ignoring the will of the people. They feared tyranny over the states. They feared a central government would become too powerful and impose on individual freedoms. To name a few…
The Oklahoma state legislature is just trying to re-establish the balance that the founders worked so hard to solidify in our constitution. We should join them…
Rich Hand is a candidate for congressional district 5 in colorado. Formerly a Republican, he has left the party after 16 years because of his disappointment with its direction. He is a dedicated family man, the author of My Life; Ignored! and a musician with 3 CD’s. Visit his blog at http://whoisrichhand.blogspot.com/
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Click Here to Get the Free Tenth Amendment Center Newsletter,
December 22, 2008
Subject: Tenth Amendment Resolution
Dear Friend,
I want to give you an update on the 10th Amendment Resolution. Last year the bill passed the Oklahoma House 92-3. It was not heard in the Senate because the Senate Democrats refused to let it be heard. I have refiled the bill for the upcoming session as HJR 1003.
This coming session should be different because the Republicans took control of the Senate. The margin in the 2009-2010 session will be 26 Republicans to 22 Democrats.
It is not guaranteed that the bill will be heard or passed. This is where I need your help. I need you and everyone who cares about preserving our constitution to contact your state representative and state senator and tell them you want them to support HJR 1003.
If you live in a state other than Oklahoma, please contact your state representative or state senator and ask them to file a 10th Amendment Resolution in your state. If you do have a legislator in your state that is interested in sponsoring a bill, please let my legislative assistant know and we will be in communication with them. My assistant’s name is Sharon Brown. Contact information for Ms. Brown and my office is:
sharon.brown@okhouse.gov or 405-557-7354.
Thank you for your efforts and help in saving our constitutional form of government.
Sincerely,
Charles Key
CK:sb
“bind him down from mischief with the chains of the Constitution.”
Thomas Jefferson
Vice Chairman
Subcommittee on Insurance
and Retirement
Committees:
Banking Subcommittee, Economic Development and Financial Services, Human Services, Insurance and Retirement Subcommittee, Public Health, Health Subcommittee
and Retirement
and Retirement
This is a promising development, to be sure. The rubber will meet the road when Oklahoma has to choose between exercising its Tenth Amendment rights and taking some kind of federal money.
Rep. Key should coordinate his effort with those of legislators in other states. I know that there are sympathetic legislators in New York, Missouri, and South Carolina, for starters.
Kevin Gutzman
Author, _The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution_ and _Virginia’s American Revolution: From Dominion to Republic, 1776-1840_ (chs. 3, 4, and 6 of which will be of particular interest)
Kevin, excellent point indeed. And that’s often what it gets down to. The feds essentially bribe the state governments with money through highway funding and the like – to help “incentivize” a continued subservience to their unconstitutional edicts.
No doubt that there are sympathetic legislators in other states, and places like Montana and New Hampshire are taking steps as well.
It’s a long, long battle, but as things get worse economically, I think we’ll find more and more people getting sick and tired of federal encroachments in their daily lives.
Makes me think of a great quite by John Adams:
“The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.”
By the way, I’d also like to recommend Kevin’s book, Who Killed the Constitution, which he co-authored with Tom Woods. It’s always sitting right next to my desk.
Now I have HOPE!!
Change is what the fed is going to get!
It is about time.
What about the IRS law that was not ratified by a majority of states also?
They have the gall to usurp our rights as individuals as well as the states.
Lets get back to the gold standard as required by the constitution so that we may have real $ growth based on the value of real $ production.
Sincerely,
Bijaya Kumara Das Brian D Grover
Bijaya – there’s very little that the federal government does that’s actually in line with the constitution. If we’re able to return most of the power to “the states” or “the people” we’ll have a far better chance to advance the cause of liberty.
Ending the income tax, and allowing free choice in money would sure do some good too!