Do you like experiments?  If so, ask the next ten people you come across to give you a definition for the word "federalism."  Then sit back and watch, and laugh ... or cry.

Federalism is at the very heart of our unprecedented constitutional system of internal and external checks that balance power between federal and state governments.  This delicate balance balance governing power made America a unique fount of freedom and prosperity. Understanding American federalism, and the distortions to the fundamental principle, is critical to restoring balance in our state-federal governing partnership.  Unfortunately, what used to be understood by every elementary school student has nearly disappeared from our vocabulary.  

Today, this is what "freedom" looks like in our "public" parks.  For well over a year, the American Lands Council has been educating people why it is crucial that states own and manage their own lands. The transfer of our public lands to all willing states is the only solution big enough to (i)fund education, (ii) better care for the lands,

(iii) protect access, (iv) create jobs, and (v) grow local, state and national economies.

The recent shutdown of our federal government has been an important wake-up call for our nation and has forced many to think about DC political management of our public lands versus local management by those whose lives and livelihoods, communities and businesses, depend upon the wise stewardship of our public lands.  Hopefully, the past three weeks have taught us something about the vital importance of federalism designed to insure the liberty of individuals, families and communities.  (See links here, here, here, and here).

This week, The County Seat TV did a very insightful program, explaining some of the impacts of the closing of our Nat'l Parks.

Reopening the National Parks County Seat Season 3, Episode 42

Federalism is about the proper balance of powers between governing partners.  As is stated in Federalist Paper #45, "The powers delegated by the...Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite."

The federal government is a necessary member of the governing partnership.  The "few and defined" powers delegated to it in our constitution are critical to our liberty, safety, and well-being.  But the states have not only the right, but the responsibility, to maintain, defend, and exercise the "numerous and indefinite" powers not delegated to the federal governing partner "as a double security to the rights of the people."    

The importance of federalism as it pertains to safeguarding the fundamental principle of property is captured in these words: 

"The three great rights are so bound together as to be essentially one right. To give a man his life, but deny him his liberty, is to take from him all that makes his life worth living. To give him his liberty, but take from him the property which is the fruit and badge of his liberty, is to still leave him a slave." - George Sutherland, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, 1921 

 Please join with us today.  We must compel the federal government to honor to willing western states the same promise it made and kept with Hawaii and all states east of Colorado.  Our freedom depends on it.