Nullification Continues And What To Do About It

Alabama is rolling right along with its effort to subvert United States law.  I have posted several times about the nullification epidemic growing in some states across the country.  This is more than a little annoying.  These states actually think they can ignore Federal Law.  We fought a war over this notion.  I've covered that a lot here so I won't repeat myself here.

Kansas, Mississippi, Wyoming, Alabama, and a few more have/are contemplating nullification laws in their states either over Obamacare or gun control legislation.  We know this is happening but what do we do about it?

As with many issues, it's not a bad idea to follow the money.  The following is a map that shows how much money each state gets from the Federal government for every dollar it sends in taxes.

Wyoming and Kansas are not doing too bad.  They only take a little more than they give but then look at Alabama and Mississippi.  They both take close to double what they give and they feel they have the right to tell the Federal government what to do?  

Just for fun, lets look at tome of those predominantly liberal areas of the country.  New York, California, Massachusetts, etc. all give more than they get.

But for the states that want to decide that the Federal laws do not apply to them, what do we do?  Maybe we should stop giving them so much of our money.  Clearly, their conservative principles are not working if they have to ask for money constantly.  

Note: The figures on the map are from 2004, but I doubt much has changed.  If someone finds a map with updated figures, I'd love to see it.  Especially if it refutes my argument.

Let them secede, and we'll see who has the last laugh.  They need us more than we need them.

Wyoming Dives Headfirst Into Nullification

A couple weeks ago I wrote about Wyoming toying with the idea of nullification.  Well, today members of the state House of Representatives passed legislation that would nullify any new federal law passed in an effort to reduce gun violence.  They dove straight in and didn't listen to me.

It is worth it to point out that no federal law has been passed, much less introduced as a bill yet, but that didn't stop them from voting on their bill.  State Rep. Kendell Kroeker (R) said this is the reason the bill is not unconstitutional.  It's nice to see that someone out there is recognizing what they're doing.

The heavily Republican controlled state Senate will likely pass the bill as well.  It will be interesting to see what the federal government does in response to this should any new law pass.

Wyoming Needs A History Lesson

Before Vice President Joe Biden can deliver his recommendations on new Gun Control measures on Tuesday, some people and states are getting a little excited about what may come.  Wyoming is floating a bill that would nullify any federal law they, as a state, don’t approve of.  Also, this law, were it actually passed, would create punishments for law enforcement personnel that would come into the state to enforce the law.

Disregarding the obvious unconstitutionality of that proposal, this has been tried before. 

Twice.

In 1832, that bastion of sense, South Carolina passed and ordinance that said they could nullify an act of Congress.  In this case it had to do with South Carolina’s want to do business with foreign governments independently of the nation.  Congress said no, and South Carolina said, “well we’re gonna anyway,” and then stuck out their tongue at Congress. 

Ok, so maybe that wasn’t the exact what they said, but the sentiment was the same.

President Andrew Jackson was understandably upset when he heard this.  This was also one of the things that angered him about his own Vice President, John C. Calhoun whom he threatened to hang.  Calhoun was from South Carolina and took their side in his matter.  Jackson felt that this issue could and would lead to a civil war.  He wrote a letter to South Carolina that cooled things off and put off the civil war for almost thirty years. 

The second time nullification was discussed the Civil War actually occurred. Newly elected President Abraham Lincoln knew this was coming and actually usedJackson’s letter to South Carolina as part of his inspiration for his first inaugural address.  This time states decided they didn’t want to follow federal law an estimated 750,000 Americans died.  Also, their nullification did not stand.

So, Wyoming, is this truly the way you want to go down in history?  Your proposal will not work and it says that you are not willing to address gun violence in this country.  Perhaps there is less gun violence in Wyoming than in some other states and that is why you feel it is appropriate for you to ignore your duty as a member of the United States.  We, Wyoming, we are in this together.  We are one nation, supposedly indivisible, and that means that you should join the conversation.  Don’t stick out your tongue at Congress.  John Boehner may not have a very nice reaction…