Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2015
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2015 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: David S. Walsh

AMENDMENT PAYS HEED TO STATES' RIGHTS

Just to be clear, I have no dog in the fight concerning gay marriage, 
abortion rights or the legalization of marijuana.

I have, however, read the Constitution of the United States.

Nowhere in it do I find any reference to any of these subjects. I did 
find that on March 4, 1789, several amendments to the Constitution 
were put into law. For this discussion, the one of importance is the 
Tenth Amendment.

"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."

As I mentioned earlier, I do not advocate nor oppose any of the state 
laws concerning the above-mentioned initiatives. I simply mentioned 
them because they seem to be hot-button issues currently.

What I am concerned about is the federal government's apparent 
disregard for the 10th Amendment. Especially the part about "or to the people."

Just out of curiosity, how did the Feds decide that marijuana should 
be illegal and vodka is OK? This seems to be a battle of states' 
rights vs. federal regulations. I fall on the side of the states.

DAVID S. WALSH

Powell
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom