what. (Political edition)

[serinde]

From last night's VP interviews, here's just a single line from Caribou Barbie:

"I'm, in that sense, a federalist, where I believe that states should have more say in the laws of their lands and individual areas."

Now, back when I was in civics class, a federalist was someone who approved of a strong Federal government, and wanted less power being given to the states. Perhaps it is different in Alaska.

Comments

[dagnycat522.livejournal.com]

I <3 the Caribou Barbie moniker!

To be um...fair? (ick) to Palin, the term federalism does (or did, since a lot of these definitions have become meaningless) basically mean the concept that yeah, there's the federal government that does stuff, but almost equal to them are the state gov'ts who create law based on the needs/wants of the state. So that's probably what she meant. Both the Federalist and anti-Federalist papers talk about this.

Actually, I'm probably giving her too much credit. Is it wrong that I bet she's never read either of the aforementioned texts, and that I also bet Obama HAS (since he's all "intellectual" and all) and that the fact that he has read them is kind of swoonworthy?

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

I can't take credit for the moniker, alas.

I am willing to believe that my high school civics class was dumbed down for the droolers. It being a required class and all, they might have just boiled down all the nuances to a simple dichotomy.

Ah, the Wikipedias tell all (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalism_in_the_united_states). Apparently there is a New Federalism[tm] which means the opposite of what Federalism used to mean. *facepalm*

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Just like Neoconservatism™ is the opposite of conservatism. ;) Some of my friends self-identify as Paleoconservatives.

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

Ayup, basically anyone who calls themselves a Federalist ever since Nixon is saying "The New Deal was an evil power grab". At the time (Nixon's), it was also a way to seduce angry Dixiecrats over to the Elephant Side by using "states' rights" as a foil against "civil rights".

Come to think of it, when Republicans invoke states' rights nowadays, it's usually in the context of abortion or minimum wage laws. So hey, still a foil against "civil rights".

[scavgraphics.livejournal.com]

Uhm...I've read the Federalist Papers....


Just saying, is all.

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

I' be surprised if Palin has read the entire Constitution since middle school, much less the documents leading up to it. Except the "endowed by their Creator" part of the Declaration of Independence, which she probably thinks is part of the Constitution.