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China is smaller than the US.
China has 1.3 BILLION people spread out over a landmass LARGER THAN THE USA, and yet have succeeded in having a strong central government. They also have lower gun violence, a higher literacy rate, zero racism or hate crimes, and are still a major world power.
The individual rights are paramount. The state rights are the next level of protection. Both are necessary. What is so difficult to understand?
I never understood having 50 different criminal codes, surely murder is murder no matter where you are.
The individual rights are paramount. The state rights are the next level of protection. Both are necessary. What is so difficult to understand?
The idea of an individual state having so much power within a sovereign country is insanely confusing. It boggles my mind that states like Texas are allowed to restrict abortion, that states like North Carolina or Alabama are allowed to pass laws restricting LGBTQ rights, or that individual states are allowed to make their own laws allowing assault rifles while banning a simple harmless weed from being smoked.
Personally, the only laws that local, non-federal governments should be allowed to make should be speed limits, road construction/repairs, and limited oversight over local taxes. All other laws, such as those regarding a woman's right to choose, should be the sole territory of the national government.
The idea of states themselves makes no sense. Why does each province of this country get to have it's own flag, its own "state anthem", it's own motto, and it's own constitution? This is basically just encouraging secession, regionalism, and state government overreach.
I believe that the idea of states should be abolished, and should be replaced with thirty national district of ten million people each. Each district would have two senators, and it's own local elected board of trustees to oversee local issues such as speed limits. Each district would only be referred by number (for example District 29), and would not have its own flag or constitution. This is to hammer in the fact that the federal government, not the state government, is in charge.
Once again, these districts would only be allowed to make laws regarding local issues, such as roads, building codes, or park funding. Important issues such as the minimum wage, the rights of LGBTQ individuals, the legalization of Marijuana, etc. would be made by the federal government and be the same nationwide.
I know that some of you will say "but the idea of states is in the constitution!" Yes it is. But the constitution is just a piece of paper which can be edited. The constitution in 1789 allowed slavery, treated people of color as subhumans, and banned women from voting. I believe the idea of having fifty sovereign states within our nation is another antiquated idea which needs to go the way of the horse and buggy.
I think that we need to go further than just nerfing. I believe that here, as in many cases, China is a good example to follow. The provinces of China do not have their own flags, anthems, mottos, etc. and their governments cannot pass any laws other than those regarding local issues such as speed limits.
China has 1.3 BILLION people spread out over a landmass LARGER THAN THE USA, and yet have succeeded in having a strong central government. They also have lower gun violence, a higher literacy rate, zero racism or hate crimes, and are still a major world power.
China has 1.3 BILLION people spread out over a landmass LARGER THAN THE USA, and yet have succeeded in having a strong central government. They also have lower gun violence, a higher literacy rate, zero racism or hate crimes, and are still a major world power.
The idea of an individual state having so much power within a sovereign country is insanely confusing. It boggles my mind that states like Texas are allowed to restrict abortion, that states like North Carolina or Alabama are allowed to pass laws restricting LGBTQ rights, or that individual states are allowed to make their own laws allowing assault rifles while banning a simple harmless weed from being smoked.
Personally, the only laws that local, non-federal governments should be allowed to make should be speed limits, road construction/repairs, and limited oversight over local taxes. All other laws, such as those regarding a woman's right to choose, should be the sole territory of the national government.
The idea of states themselves makes no sense. Why does each province of this country get to have it's own flag, its own "state anthem", it's own motto, and it's own constitution? This is basically just encouraging secession, regionalism, and state government overreach.
I believe that the idea of states should be abolished, and should be replaced with thirty national district of ten million people each. Each district would have two senators, and it's own local elected board of trustees to oversee local issues such as speed limits. Each district would only be referred by number (for example District 29), and would not have its own flag or constitution. This is to hammer in the fact that the federal government, not the state government, is in charge.
Once again, these districts would only be allowed to make laws regarding local issues, such as roads, building codes, or park funding. Important issues such as the minimum wage, the rights of LGBTQ individuals, the legalization of Marijuana, etc. would be made by the federal government and be the same nationwide.
I know that some of you will say "but the idea of states is in the constitution!" Yes it is. But the constitution is just a piece of paper which can be edited. The constitution in 1789 allowed slavery, treated people of color as subhumans, and banned women from voting. I believe the idea of having fifty sovereign states within our nation is another antiquated idea which needs to go the way of the horse and buggy.
The idea of states themselves makes no sense. Why does each province of this country get to have it's own flag, its own "state anthem", it's own motto, and it's own constitution? This is basically just encouraging secession, regionalism, and state government overreach.
China is smaller than the US.
No, it's larger.
The US is "larger" when you count territorial waters, but China has more landmass
https://www.quora.com/Is-China-bigger-than-the-USA-in-terms-of-land-massYeaaaah.
Even taking the most generous estimate of Chinese land with the most stingy estimate of US land, China comes out less than 2% larger.
Still waiting for you to cite the article, section, and clause of the Constitution which "god damn did" restrict voting to white landowners. I suspect I will be waiting a long time.
I never understood having 50 different criminal codes, surely murder is murder no matter where you are.
All the states have to follow federal law. But the states can add state legislation to make a federal law stronger or more strict...but they can't pass laws that violate or weaken federal law. So Federal law provides a basic framework that all must states follow...but the individual states can refine and enhance federal laws to their own satisfaction.
China has 1.3 BILLION people spread out over a landmass LARGER THAN THE USA, and yet have succeeded in having a strong central government. They also have lower gun violence, a higher literacy rate, zero racism or hate crimes, and are still a major world power.
stuff like murder is not where controversy usually comes in criminal codes, it's when you start getting into more subjective issues like DUI enforcement, gun offenses, drug offenses, how certain classes of crimes are categorized (for example, every gun crime in Washington state is a misdemeanor, whereas every gun crime in NJ is a felony) some states have differing ideas as to what constitutes minor offenses like trespassing.
or how much power the police have to enforce laws, in NYC cops have almost free reign it seems, here in WA DUI checkpoints are illegal and the cops can't search your garbage can without a warrant.
The idea of an individual state having so much power within a sovereign country is insanely confusing. It boggles my mind that states like Texas are allowed to restrict abortion, that states like North Carolina or Alabama are allowed to pass laws restricting LGBTQ rights, or that individual states are allowed to make their own laws allowing assault rifles while banning a simple harmless weed from being smoked.
Personally, the only laws that local, non-federal governments should be allowed to make should be speed limits, road construction/repairs, and limited oversight over local taxes. All other laws, such as those regarding a woman's right to choose, should be the sole territory of the national government.
The idea of states themselves makes no sense. Why does each province of this country get to have it's own flag, its own "state anthem", it's own motto, and it's own constitution? This is basically just encouraging secession, regionalism, and state government overreach.
I believe that the idea of states should be abolished, and should be replaced with thirty national district of ten million people each. Each district would have two senators, and it's own local elected board of trustees to oversee local issues such as speed limits. Each district would only be referred by number (for example District 29), and would not have its own flag or constitution. This is to hammer in the fact that the federal government, not the state government, is in charge.
Once again, these districts would only be allowed to make laws regarding local issues, such as roads, building codes, or park funding. Important issues such as the minimum wage, the rights of LGBTQ individuals, the legalization of Marijuana, etc. would be made by the federal government and be the same nationwide.
I know that some of you will say "but the idea of states is in the constitution!" Yes it is. But the constitution is just a piece of paper which can be edited. The constitution in 1789 allowed slavery, treated people of color as subhumans, and banned women from voting. I believe the idea of having fifty sovereign states within our nation is another antiquated idea which needs to go the way of the horse and buggy.
That still does not really explain why each state needs to have its own code. I am sure the provinces might have differing opinions on crime but overall their laws are are all pretty similar with only minor differences, there is no need for 50 different codes. It also allows issues to be resolved much more quickly, especially if there is crossing of boundaries involved. It also pretty much forces laws to stay progressive and you do not end up with silly things like sodomy laws in the 2000s.
That still does not really explain why each state needs to have its own code. I am sure the provinces might have differing opinions on crime but overall their laws are are all pretty similar with only minor differences, there is no need for 50 different codes. It also allows issues to be resolved much more quickly, especially if there is crossing of boundaries involved. It also pretty much forces laws to stay progressive and you do not end up with silly things like sodomy laws in the 2000s.
That still does not really explain why each state needs to have its own code. I am sure the provinces might have differing opinions on crime but overall their laws are are all pretty similar with only minor differences, there is no need for 50 different codes. It also allows issues to be resolved much more quickly, especially if there is crossing of boundaries involved. It also pretty much forces laws to stay progressive and you do not end up with silly things like sodomy laws in the 2000s.
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