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Message: <blockquote data-quote="henschman" data-source="post: 1508194" data-attributes="member: 4235">Haha, it's OK Terry... I probably should have phrased that differently or quoted the article -- I can see how you could think I was actually expressing that opinion.It really is classic WaPo though... which is really just classic biased journalism.  I suppose they think they are being clever by slipping those little comments in.I am trying to think of one positive thing the federal government has done for me lately... and the answer I keep coming up with is "nothing that a free market couldn't do better."  Mostly they just take my money and give it to less productive people, or spend it on other programs that impede the liberty and productivity of this country.  And yes, this includes the military... I firmly believe our current foreign policy makes us less safe rather than more safe.  I do believe in having a national military, but I believe it should be a much smaller, purely defensive force, and I think a lot of that role could be taken by the States.  I suppose if it were up to me I'd keep the federal courts, too... we do need some sort of forum for interstate disputes.I am a big believer in the strong nondelegation doctrine... I believe that all administrative agencies are unconstitutional and should be disbanded.  Agencies are completely antithetical to the notion of representative government.  If we are to have laws, they should be made by elected representatives of the people rather than unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of all our laws are in the form of "regulations," and are made by agencies.  You can hardly call our country a Republic anymore... Administrative State would be a more accurate term.  Just think, if we didn't have all those agencies, all the tens of millions of people employed by them would then have to be employed in the private market, doing something that actually benefits other people enough that they are willing to pay for it voluntarily.  Some people would be able to be employed doing nearly the same thing in the private market, such as air traffic controllers and airport security, but other fields would cease to be (EPA toilet flush volume inspectors, for instance).  In a free society, private quality certification companies (like Consumer Reports, SAE, ISO9000, etc.) would take the place of government regulators.  We would still have the Courts, so if anyone's actions directly harm another person or their property, the victim could obtain redress and compensation -- that would provide all the environmental and industrial regulation we would need.  Without all the victimless crime legislation, the police would be focused purely on prosecuting those who violate the rightful liberty of others.  There would be no central bank manipulating the market, and politicians would not have the authority to subsidize failed firms, which would make our market much more efficient and productive.  Basically we would have a freer and more prosperous society.  Sound good to anyone?</blockquote>

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