Comments on: Congress To Celebrate Repeal Day, Its Own Inability To Learn from History

By: Red Green

Red Green — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:52:14 +0000

Yeah…and “THE MEDIA” will not notice the congress not noticing.The 18th ,may be the only ammendment, they are still paying any attention to.

By: freedomfan

freedomfan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:41:15 +0000

Good point, Cogswell. I use that example quite often when discussing government overreach. Typically, someone will say, "I thought they could do whatever they wanted because of the Commerce Clause." I explain that the purpose of the CC was never to let government regulate everything under the sun and then ask, "Why do you think the 18th Amendment was passed? Not what did they hope to accomplish, but why did they need an Amendment to do it?" That's usually a pretty good entrée to point out that, for most of the country's history, people understood that the Constitution did not allow the government the power to regulate or ban anything by passing ordinary legislation. I would really love to hear a Supreme Court justice explain why the 18th Amendment was needed before the government could ban alcohol. I mean, passing a Constitutional Amendment is a huge undertaking; does the SCOTUS think it was simply an unnecessary parliamentary tactic or something?

By: Vlad Drac

Vlad Drac — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:37:13 +0000

Same as it ever was (smack!). Same as it ever was (smack!)

It’s like slapping yourself in the face.

By: Andrew Williams

Andrew Williams — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:34:30 +0000

Same as it ever was (smack!). Same as it ever was (smack!).
Same as it ever was (smack!). Same as it ever was (smack!).

By: KBCraig

KBCraig — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:54:45 +0000

Back then the progressives went about it the right way. By a constitutional amend. People didn’t like it … and it was repealled. Wow… the system worked.

This is also why marijuana was first controlled through tax stamps, and why machineguns were taxed, rather than banned. It was openly understood, by both the Congress and the People, that the federal government had no constitutional authority to ban anything.

By: Cynical In CA

Cynical In CA — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:53:11 +0000

PIMF — Geekfather. Pardon.

By: Cynical In CA

Cynical In CA — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:52:37 +0000

(-1) to Godfather for giving Congress WAY too much credit.

By: Cogswell

Cogswell — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:05:50 +0000

But wait.

Let us PRAISE the 18th (i say this while drinking a beer).

Or rather let us PRAISE the method in which they forced their nannyism on us.

At one time they knew they couldn’t use the FDA or ATF because they knew that the federal government didn’t have the power without constitutional power. Thus the 18th.

Back then the progressives went about it the right way. By a constitutional amend. People didn’t like it … and it was repealled. Wow… the system worked.

Sadly people wouldn’t take this path anymore… some agency would declare it bad for children .. and the next thing you know it is outlawed … without a real hearing from the people.

So. On this day – let us be HAPPY that at one time the republic worked.

The 18th – proof that at one time it was common that people knew that limitations on the federal government existed…

By: Legate Damar

Legate Damar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:32:31 +0000

guys, this is a trick question. “ANY” congressgritters?

Yes.

At least two of them (Ron Paul, Barney Frank.) But very probably less than five.

By: Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:01:56 +0000

Whereas prior to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which established Prohibition in the United States, abuses and insufficient regulation resulted in irresponsible overconsumption of alcohol;

They still don’t get it.

By: omar

omar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:16:12 +0000

The people who wrote the resolution know exactly what it says. The people who didn’t write it probably won’t read it.

The drug-warriors are just rubbing their irony in our faces.

By: Marty

Marty — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:09:59 +0000

I can’t see the special olympics being compared to congress… however, I CAN see a comparison with congress and the olympics. corruption in the judging, bribes in deciding where the olympics will be held, huge works programs building the stadiums, lots of sex, drugs, and partying in olympic village (just like DC), with the authorities giving them a wink and a nod, bullshit plaques being handed out for bullshit government accomplishments would be the equal to some of these bullshit medals being handed out for some of these bullshit sports, over-aggressive security, etc, etc…

I’ve been to the special olympics and I don’t think they’d appreciate being lumped together with congress.

By: Geekfather

Geekfather — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:26:05 +0000

Q: What’s the difference between the United States Congress and the Special Olympics?

A: Medals.

So… no… I doubt they’ll see the irony.