LETTER: States need to take back their power over federal excesses

The words “the state,” as used in the Constitution of the United States of America, do not — repeat do NOT — refer to a “general government” (i.e., Congress and the executive).

It refers to EACH of the (now 50) states. In every place it appears. No exceptions. No equivocation on the part of the framers of the Constitution, nor others whom we now call the “Founders.”

The Declaration of Independence made it abundantly clear that we, the people of the states (plural) would not tolerate tyranny of any kind, and their “decent respect for the opinion of mankind” obligated them to spell out the many MANY reasons for their declaration of independence from the tyrant, George the Third, and his minions here and in Britain.

To me, their most important reason was this: “He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.”

HOW is THAT reason — enough in my opinion to warrant rebellion — any different from the sorry state of affairs in which the states and we, the people, find ourselves today? Ask the Bundys. Ask Mr. Finicum’s survivors.

Then, ask yourselves if you would tolerate a swarm of heavily armed agents breaking into your homes and stealing your property to satisfy the lustful gluttony of those who people our federal bureaucracies, Congress, the president, and even the federal and state courts — let alone your OWN STATE governments.

—Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls