Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2012
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Jim Banks
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n349/a01.html

DEFEND THE BILL OF RIGHTS

In response to the July 14 letter "On 'states' rights' " by the 
writer uneasy about invoking states' rights in defense of 
California's marijuana laws: Fear not. States' rights is not some 
discredited doctrine used only by Southern states to defend their 
policies regarding blacks and gays. Instead it is the essence of the 
10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reserves to the states 
and the people power not delegated to the national government. This 
amendment responded to fear among the Constitution's framers that an 
all-powerful national government would lead to tyranny and 
enslavement of the people. The amendment was so crucial that it was 
included among the Bill of Rights, alongside freedom of the press and 
the right to a jury trial.

Over time, as increasing power has devolved to the federal 
government, defenders of states' rights have dwindled in Washington; 
federal courts, except for a few conservative jurists, seem 
unsympathetic to states' rights arguments.

However, if, as the July 14 letter suggests, even in ultra-liberal 
San Francisco there is an awakening to the threat that an unchecked 
federal government poses to us all, then perhaps there is yet time to 
avert the framers' worst fears.

What is needed is an aroused public that demands that our federal 
politicians and judges respect the 10th Amendment and defend the 
states against ever-encroaching federal power.

Jim Banks, San Francisco
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom