Southerner, American, Lover of Liberty, PhD of political science, professor, blogger.
Have you bought into the notion that the “people” know best? That America is a democracy? That government should listen to us and our demands above anything else? If so, here are a few important points that say otherwise. Read further to learn more and dispel any misconceptions you may have about America and democracy.
In one of my recent posts, I talked about the dangers of arbitrary power. The problem is not necessarily how specific powers are used (sometimes they’re used for “good”), but that there is no limit or way to define arbitrary power. I pointed out that the executive order and judicial review are both arbitrary (i.e. …
The Confining Power of the Constitutional Amendment Read More »
Something I’ve come to recognize more and more, and by default, emphasize more and more when speaking to various groups is this: we should throw out 95% of what we hear from candidates campaigning for some government position. That seems a bit harsh, I know, but I’m actually being kind… I didn’t say 100%. 😉 …
Fast Food Politics: America’s Demand for Political Junk Food Read More »
“If you think Independence Day is America’s defining holiday, think again. Thanksgiving deserves that title, hands-down.” Tony Snow I’m going to start out this post with a personal “thanksgiving”. I’m thankful for three years of successfully writing this Liberty Belle blog. This is my third Thanksgiving post and for that alone, I am thankful. I’m …
In my research about law enforcement and their place in a Constitutional society, I realized that I can’t discuss law enforcement without also discussing drug policy, specifically, federal drug policy since the majority of federal incarcerations in the country are for violating federal drug laws. Plus, haven’t you heard the common trope, “War on Drugs” …
Is It Constitutional? Federal Drug Policy: Part 1 of 3 Read More »
I’m going to have a bit of fun today and share with y’all a “food for thought” response I gave to my students in one of my online classes after reading through their responses to an assignment about “free speech”. I’m particularly busy this semester teaching thirteen classes, which has made it more difficult for …
I wrote this a few years ago, but I think it speaks loudly still today. I confess, I am a bit at a loss when deciding what to write about today. I could write about new information I read on the coronavirus from the state department website, or I could talk about the massive military …
Have you ever heard of the “supremacy clause”? Ever heard it used to justify the federal government’s power over states? If you want to know the truth about what the “supremacy clause” really means and why it does not mean that federal power is supreme over state power, read further!
It seems most of the world is now aware of the Supreme Court ruling on the Mississippi ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In other words, you’ve probably seen headlines like, “Roe v Wade Overturned”, “Abortion Rights Ended”, “Democracy’s Downfall?”, “A Win for the Right”, “Abortion Ended!” or a slew of other rousing …
There’s a quote by Alexis de Tocqueville I wanted to share with everyone. It’s perhaps more relevant today than it ever was. The more I teach and give talks on the Constitution, the more I realize just how much the Constitution is an idea that derives its power from the belief that we have in …
Limits of Government Can Only Be Discerned by The Understanding Read More »