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

[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".