From Deseret News archives:

Let's make job of president doable again

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:00 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Frank is on vacation with his family (can you say "aloha!"), so I'm going solo this week.

I support John McCain for president, but in one sense I'm not sure it matters who is elected. Whoever wins, the next president is doomed to fail in many ways. The reason is that the job description for president has become impossible. Any president is set up for failure because the expectations of the job are so enormous as to be unattainable.

Over many decades, the federal government, contrary to the clear intent of the nation's founders, has invaded every aspect of our lives. It has become immense in size, reach and expense. Every problem anyone faces has become a federal problem. Presidential candidates (except quirky Ron Paul, who says he doesn't want to run your life, your business, the economy or the world) make it worse by promising to solve every problem, usually by further expansion and expense of the federal government.

Story continues below
Under the system of balanced federalism created by the founders, the job of president was doable. The role of the federal government was supreme but limited to specific duties delegated to it by the Constitution. A president could successfully fulfill the responsibilities of his office.

The states were protected from a potentially ambitious and overbearing federal government by the 10th Amendment, reserving any power not specifically delegated to the national government to the states and the people. It is part of the Bill of Rights, designed to defend the basic rights of the people. States refused to ratify the Constitution until that amendment was in place. States were also protected by the fact that U.S. senators were elected by state legislators. Any senator who voted to usurp state authority or impose an unfunded mandate would be jerked back home in a hurry.

Today, balanced federalism is dead and gone. It's not even an afterthought. No one even talks about federalism any more. Candidates don't even think about the roles of federal, state and local governments and what services can best be delivered by what level of government. We just assume federal supremacy in every aspect of our lives and society.

Recent comments

Eric,

LaVarr didn't say that the internet would usher in the...

David | June 16, 2008 at 7:41 a.m.

Reall, I tried reading the column without Pignanelli here. Can't...

I Tried... | June 15, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.

Hogwash Lavarr. How exactly is the internet which is loosely...

Eric | June 15, 2008 at 10:03 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Brewer STILL can hit the open shot regularly and can't defend. He's a great...

I know a guy who works in construction jobs, my neighbor, Robert, who looks a...

Mormon headstones vandalized in Wyoming

["Those who take exception to the mention of the religion of those who the...

After one week of good basketball people think Matthews is the 2 guard of the...

Another story of care and compassion! It is amazing how these organizations...

TO --- @Anonymous | 4:11 p.m ["I Call BS. The line "We have decades of...

TCU stuck at fourth in BCS

TCU will not get a chance at the BCS title game unless one of the other three...

Where can I sign the petition? I know alot of people who are wanting to sign...

4A: Timpview 38, Mountain Crest 21

Sorry that you have to watch the better teams on television now. It forces...

Obviously you care or you wouldn't be commenting. Please quit with the...

Advertisements
Advertisement