Shea, Madison get it

The 10th Amendment reads, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Rep. Matt Shea knows the Constitution. The Founding Fathers knew one or two things about a federal government and a constitution: a federal government will, if not carefully circumscribed, tend to pull all powers unto itself. In order to limit that tendency, James Madison and others put forth a federal government of very limited and specifically enumerated powers.

That wasn’t enough for the citizens. They demanded a Bill of Rights. The citizens understood that a government that could do anything must do everything. Unfettered democracy lends itself to expansion and abuse at the expense of liberty.

One of those guarantees was the 10th Amendment. Reinvigorating the 10th Amendment isn’t “a waste of time and effort.” It’s a return to common sense. A return to federalism.

Matt Shea knows the Constitution and understands government. The Spokesman-Review believes that the courts that have gutted the 10th Amendment are the proper venue to reinvigorate the 10th Amendment. I think attorney Matt Shea has the better understanding in this case.

Dave Stevens

Spokane