Originally Posted by White Fox

If you can't take care of yourself, what makes you think that someone else who happens to be in the government can take care of both of you (and numerous others)?

Originally Posted by White Fox

Would you rather have California (the largest state) make the ultimate decision on what the laws should be. In that case, we would all be able to smoke marijuana.

Originally Posted by menetopali

we are a hybrid between a weak union of individual countries (ie as we were under the Articles of Confederation) and a centrally controlled country. our federal government's function is to regulate interstate commerce, maintain a single currency, provide for the defense of the states, regulate the relationships among the states, et cetera. I refer you to the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and Anti-Federalist Papers for a more complete discussion on the roles of the state and federal governments.

as for supporting the state or providing for the citizenry, it is not the function of government to "care for our fellow citizens" it is rather the an implied moral obligation for individuals to help others within their community and outside their community. this is done through volunteerism, charitable giving, and community organizations. if the state or federal government is spending more than they can afford, perhaps they should re-evaluate what they are spending money on. this is particularly true of the federal government and routine deficit spending.

it is my position that state and federal government need to get out of social welfare and morality. the federal government should be reigned in to act only in matters that were specifically enumerated in the Constitution and the Amendments as being under federal jurisdiction. the states should, and in many cases do, have the ability to make and enforce laws their citizens see as appropriate, provided such laws do not contradict the Constitution.

Originally Posted by CrusaderRabbit08

We really do need to reign in the feds and take back the power they've usurped over the years.

What right do they have to tell California it can't legalize marijuana?
What right do they have to tell Oregon it can't legalize assisted suicide?
What right do they have to tell Massachusetts it can't legalize gay marriage?

Originally Posted by jcwang

In our nation, each state has its own state CRIMINAL law, which can create not only confusion to the public but also injustice in comparison to other states. As a result, a similar crime can be resulted in different punishment. For example; a sex/murder case some state could give 10 years sentences while other state could give 25 years, life in prison or even death penalty. To me under one nation, we should have the same law and measurement for sentencing for all states. State do have the juridiciarly authority over its people but over all the federal is to guide each state how to be fair and consistency in terms of law.

Originally Posted by CrusaderRabbit08

We really do need to reign in the feds and take back the power they've usurped over the years.

What right do they have to tell California it can't legalize marijuana?
What right do they have to tell Oregon it can't legalize assisted suicide?
What right do they have to tell Massachusetts it can't legalize gay marriage?

Originally Posted by menetopali

excellent post!What right do they have in telling Louisiana that the drinking age must be 21? (via highway funds)

Originally Posted by Anikdote

They actually do have the right to legislate this because of the interstate commerce clause, but the rest of the stuff you got right.