Steve Chapman, a libertarian-minded columnist for the Chicago
Tribune,
takes a look at recent converts to the cause of states rights -
now that the GOP controls the three branches of the federal
government. He writes that "somewhere along the line, the two
factions switched sides. The result is like watching a version of
'The Odd Couple' in which Jack Lemmon is the slob and Walter
Matthau is the neat freak." Specifically:
People who cheered the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal have suddenly rediscovered that the Constitution assigns many prerogatives to state governments. . . . Conservatives claim the [anti-gay marriage] amendment is needed to prevent gay marriage from being mandated nationwide by the courts. But if that were the true goal, the amendment would simply affirm the sovereignty of the states over the issue, instead of forcing them all to prohibit same-sex unions.
While Chapman suspects that "the left's deployment of federalism
is mostly a tactical maneuver, not a principled one," he still
holds out that "if liberals keep championing the rightful powers of
the states, they may develop a lasting attachment." Especially
since:
In these instances [states recognizing gay marriages, medical marijuana in California, and "death with dignity" in Oregon] conservatives want faraway bureaucrats butting into local affairs, while liberals say that maybe Barry Goldwater was right about the dangers of big government. Already, this alignment is beginning to look normal rather than bizarre. We can all be thankful for gravity, because the world seems to be upside down.
And isn't it fun to see Barney Frank defending states rights!
(Note: IGF contributing author Paul Varnell made similar points
here.)