Big Government's Favorite Game: Toying with State Powers

In my State, Local, and Community Politics  class in college, we have been discussing the issue of Federalism, defined by Britannica Online Encyclopedia as the "mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in such a way as to allow each to maintain its own fundamental political integrity."

The discussion was on the federal governments usurption of state powers. Our assignment was to address the issue and say whether or not we agreed with this usurption of power.

The fact is that the government has been usurping state powers not only just recently, but for a very long time. Using different and often inventive ways (such as the "Necessary and proper" clause in the Constitution, and pressure via federal funding to states), and they really don't seem to care.

Why should they? What is so important about the the 10th Amendment anyway?
....Do you think some of the people in Washington have really ever actually read it? If so, they probablycould careless.

The problem with the tenth amendment is that it is inconvenient for big government.
It tells us that "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."

So... if the Constitution doesn't give the federal goverment cerain powers, then those powers should be reserved to the states. It's that simple.


The problem is...It ISN'T that simple to Washington these days, who apperently think that all the powers of the world should be given to the government.

So now, my question is: What do you think about this issue?
Do you think that the federal government should be able to go over the states
 powers whenever it is deemed to be "necessary and proper" (or even when it is not)? Do you think this is a serious problem?

Post your answers below and let your voice be heard!

ROCK ON AMERICA!