Taxation is Theft is Actually a Big Understatement
By: Michael Boldin A lot of my friends like to use the phrase “taxation is theft.” I do as well. But if we adopted the view of James Madison – we’d ...
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James Madison and the Necessary and Proper Clause
By: Mike Maharrey “Necessary and proper” ranks among the most abused clauses in the Constitution. It has been dubbed the “elastic clause” because of the perception that it allows the scope ...
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James Madison and the Case Against Compromise
Over the three days spanning from July 2 to July 5, 1787, the attendees at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia approved a resolution that would sufficiently satisfy the demands of ...
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Benjamin Franklin on “Doing Good to the Poor”
The federal government lacks any legitimate constitutional authority to establish welfare programs for the poor. Not only that, the federal welfare system fails in its promise to “help the poor” ...
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James Madison and the Case Against Compromise
Over the three days spanning from July 2 to July 5, 1787, the attendees at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia approved a resolution that would sufficiently satisfy the demands of ...
Read more.
The Anti-Commandeering Doctrine Isn’t About Constitutionality
State and local governments can legally refuse to cooperate with the enforcement of federal laws and the implementation of federal programs. And this is key – whether those laws or programs ...
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Alexander Hamilton’s “Implied Powers” Wrecked the Constitution
By: Mike Maharrey During the ratification debates, supporters of the Constitution insisted that the new general government would only exercise the powers explicitly enumerated in the document. But less than three years ...
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James Madison: Four Steps to Stop Federal Programs
By: Michael Boldin Writing in Federalist #46, James Madison provided a 4-step strategy to bring down federal programs, whether they’re merely unpopular, or unconstitutional. Here’s what he had to say in the ...
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The Anti-Commandeering Doctrine: An Introduction
By: Mike Maharrey The anti-commandeering doctrine provides a powerful tool to undermine overreaching, unconstitutional federal power. So, what is this doctrine? What is it based upon? And how can it be ...
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James Madison: How to Defeat Federal Programs
By: Michael Boldin In response to the hated Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, on Dec 21 and Christmas Eve, Virginia passed a series of resolutions penned by James Madison. Learn ...
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