The US Constitution was predicated on states rights and a limited federal government. For instance:
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State." - Federalist #45Apparently James Madison was a racist slave master. That was the intent of the US Constitution, and it lasted for the better part of 2 centuries. Until about the 1930s when the federal government went about unconstitutionally exceeding its boundaries. Which brings us to today. What, pray tell, does the federal government do? That question was actually asked, and answered. Actually, most of what the government does today is cut checks to other people: Pic of the day: Federal government spends most of its money (65%) cutting checks to beneficiaries
