If ever there was a quote made for the people of today, it’s this one. So many Americans are lost in the fog of false accountability. We rely too heavily on government because we assume they have the power. In some ways, they do, but it’s a power limited by the constraints of the Constitution. This is important to remember because too often it’s just assumed that what the government says or does is to be taken as the final word.

We have the power. It’s not just with our votes. We have the ability to rise up and work together to rein in the tremendous levels of overreach we’ve seen from Washington DC our whole lives. We don’t need to rise up in arms as our founding fathers did. Today, we still have enough law and order in America to be able to rely on proper political channels. This is why the growth of the American Conservative Movement is so vibrant and relevant. It’s time to reassert our interest and adherence to the Constitutional governance we have at our fingertips.

“The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived.”

Invoke your power. It’s time to say no to politicians when they attempt to go outside of the bounds of the Constitution.

If the federal government could be characterized in gaming terms, players would call it “OP.” It is “overpowered” and has been for over a hundred years, relegating many powers that should belong to the states as secondary to DC’s supremacy. This fact has driven the federalist, convention of states, and 10th Amendment movements to the point that any actions against the states are deemed oppressive the majority of the time.

In the case of the Supreme Court ruling to curb powers of state governments and law enforcement from imposing steep fines or seizing too much property, one might think this goes against the federalist mentality of letting states decide for themselves. It is not. The exception to the rule that the federal government acting against state governments is bad happens when individual rights are being protected.

That’s checks and balances. That’s federalism.

Always happy to see a victory over cancer. It is a dreadful disease and every survivor is a gift to us. https://t.co/s53pFz24MP

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) February 20, 2019

Conservatives, federalists, Libertarians, and classical liberals have a responsibility to draw down federal government power whenever it’s appropriate, which is the vast majority of the time. But even the states must sometimes be put in check when they’re abusing the rights of citizens, as is often the case with incongruous fines and property forfeitures. We must be discerning and recognize when the federal government is acting to defend our rights against the states.

It’s telling that the Supreme Court voted unanimously in this case. It shows that when something is so blatantly unconstitutional, party politics can be put aside to do what’s right for American citizens.

When Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) hadn’t been in Washington DC for very long when he said this amazing quote. At the time, many weren’t paying much attention. After all, many Republicans say similar things when they get to DC, but over time they become jaded, corrupted, or start to get used to being in the DC Country Club.

Amash is different. He has remained consistent with his message and views throughout his career. Now, it’s time for other Republicans to remember what they were sent to Washington DC to do in the first place. Defense of the Constitution is their top priority as it’s the best protection against a government that wants desperately to control every aspect of our lives. From healthcare to the internet to how we use our energy, government intervention has become so commonplace, it’s often hard to see the fabric of our nation behind all the layers of bureaucracy that has been placed on top of it.

“I follow a set of principles, I follow the Constitution. And that’s what I base my votes on. Limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty.”

If more Republicans followed the same principles and didn’t just use them in campaign speeches, we may actually be able to return liberties that have been taken and remove layers of government that have been formed unnecessarily.