States Wrongs

I have come to believe that the concept of States' Rights is one which must be put to rest, and the rights of the states subsumed to the rights of the Federation. If not, we will inevitably and unalterably be led to a Balkanization of the United States, which will result in our inability to move forward or perform any action other than to stand in place and tear at each other.

While States' Rights have validity as a Constitutional construct, in fact we must acknowledge that the increased mobility of our citizens demands equity of treatment across the nation's internal borders. Unless we allow the federal government to take precedence in all matters concerning providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare and securing the blessings of liberty, we will have only an imperfect union, as her citizens are repeatedly caught in a web of conflicting laws.

To speak plainly: the individual states must not be allowed the authority to abridge human rights, including those protected rights of race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, and religious conviction. They must not be permitted to deny the citizens of one state the health care available to the citizens of another state. They must not be permitted to constrain a citizenry from obtaining decent education for its young people by refusing to fund it. The health and well being of our citizens affects everyone of us and is not a trivial matter to be used as a poker chip in political bargaining.

I believe it is the purpose of government to protect and nurture the neediest of her citizens as tenderly as a parent does a child. Just as a loving parent responds most warmly to the neediest child, so must the government work to protect and heal those citizens who are in want, poor health or any sort of trouble. We can no longer tolerate a federal government that ignores the needs of the people, and we can no longer leave these urgent needs to unwilling, unable or inadequate state governments.