The 10th Amendment to the rescue

The main purpose of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America is to keep the federal government in check and only allow certain enumerated powers, which are few and well defined. 

I am not talking anarchy. The enumerated powers given to the federal government are very necessary for protection and stabilitay of our great nation, but the usurpation by the federal government was never intended to reach the magnitude we see today.

Many of the states would not adopt the original draft of the Constitution because they feared the encroachments of the federal government on the rights of the states and the people. The original 10 amendments had to be added before the states would accept the Constitution. 

It is very important for the balance of power between the state and federal government to allow only those specific enumerated powers for the federal government. The federal government is supreme in all matters relating to its responsibility, but it was specifically restricted from invading the independence and sovereign authority reserved to the states.   

We the people need to reclaim these powers that were usurped by the federal government. How are we going to do this? Thanks to the Founding Fathers the answer is already provided for: It’s called the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and it says, “The powers not delegated to the United States (the federal government) by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

George Washington also addressed this when he said, “The power under the Constitution will always be in the people.” The rights of the people will ultimately be shattered if the constitutional barriers are allowed to be broken down. In my opinion the first step in restoring our country is to get the Constitution functioning properly. Elected officials need to start honoring their oath of office.

If we had followed the Constitution, would we be in the mess we are in today? See what the Founding Fathers say about property rights, coining money, foreign entanglements, etc. Think about it. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. All laws contrary to the U.S. Constitution are NOT laws.

We the people must return to being responsible for the sake of our children and grandchildren. We must vote for moral virtuous people who know and understand the Constitution and who will respect, promote, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States so the Constitution can protect and defend us. So help us GOD.

Tony Kimberlin is a resident of Libby.