Anti-Federalist

"One party is composed of little insurgents, men in debt, who want no law, and who want a share of the property of others; these are called levellers, Shayites [as in Shay's Rebellion], etc. The other party is composed of a few, but more dangerous men, with their servile dependents; these avaricioulsy grasp at all power and property; you may discover in all the actions of these men, an evident dislike to free and equal government, and they will go systematically to work to change, essentially, the forms of government in this country; these are called aristocrats, m––ites [possibly monarchites?], etc. etc. Between these two parties is the weight of the community; the men of middling property, men not in debt on the one hand, and men, on the other, content with republican governments, and not aiming at immense fortunes, offices, and power (p. 135).

In this week reading the quote that called my attention the most defines two kind of people.  Those who look for a change everyday and those who do not what the change to maintain their elite status. Levellers as called in this quote or abolitionists are the rebels who are able to share what is available to make the world more equal. On the other hand, the elite id aldo described as the few. Those who would do what it takes to maintain their power and status over the others. These are called aristocrats. What catches my attetion the most is how after so many years the struggle between both classes continues to be the same. Nowadays we have the elite 1%, the disappearing middle class and the poor who constantly looks for a way to close the gap between the classes.

In our readings we are able to identify two kinds of federalism. Vertical and horizontal federalism.  Vertical federalism is the kind that sees the federal or national government as the most important government.  The horizontal federalism gives more importance to what each state believes is the norm. 

The Federalist

This week when reading Madison's passages this piece called my attention a lot. "The appointment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pocket (p. 93)." The subject of taxes has always been very controversial. We would think about taxes as something we should always be careful with, but as Madison says taxes are an opportunity for those with power to save an extra penny from their pocket. This quote reminds me a lot of today's debate over taxes and the wealthy 1%. We poor people pay lots of taxes that seem to be taking away our breath while the top people who are able to pay a little bit more saves more money in the bank. Although taxes are "relative" to our income and look "impartial" poor people have always the worse part on it.

When reading Alexander Hamilton's  I chose this part. "A Constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents (p. 121)." This is mostly what we all know today about the constitution. It called my attention because it might be the place from were we all got a definition of the constitution without knowing. The constitution as Hamilton says is fundamental. It is evident that laws are to be followed and that they help our day by day go smoothly. Between this two quotes I should say Madison's seems to be more realistic and open-minded.  This is the reason why I chose it in the first place, rather than just showing an idealistic point of view Madison showed how even when we think those with power should be doing what is best for us the sometimes do what is best for themselves.

10/8 assignment

Article 4 section 2 of the Constitution:

The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.

This article is very related to my previous blogs on citizenship. It gives citizens the rights and privileges they should all be entitle to. Also, it sets the jurisdiction power of the states. If a person commits a crime in a particular state and travels to another it gives the right to the state to take custody. That state is required to transfer that person to the state that needs it.

Also, this section talks about slavery. It sets laws for fugitive slaves. If a fugitive slave goes to a different state the slave should be returned by the new state. This part of the article has no value since it was amended.


The article I chose from Politico is Obama massages negotiation messaging. This article caugh my attention because of the whole controversy with the government shut down. I agree with Obama's approach because he is trying his best to stop the shut down without acepting the preasure the Republicans are putting on him and America. "But eight days into a government shutdown, with the debt ceiling in danger of being breached as early as Oct. 17, Obama has changed his tenor and tone to avoid taking blame for Washington’s meltdown." This quote I feel summarizes the whole idea of the article. President Obama and his administration do not want to take the blame for the bad decisions and the preassure the Republicans are putting on them. I feel this shutdown is a bad strategy that politiciands are using without thinking in the hardworking people that is affraid of a new recession.

Adams Vs Declaration of Independence

The quote that caught my attention the most is part of Adams "Social Contract":

All Men have a Right to remain in a State of Nature as long as they please: And in case of intollerable [sic] Oppression, Civil or Religious, to leave the Society they belong to, and enter into another.–When Men enter into Society, it is by voluntary consent; and they have a right to demand and insist upon the performance of such conditions, And previous limitations as form an equitable original compact. (p. 40)

This quote has a lot to do with pur previous discussion about citizenship. Adams talks about a natural human right to be part of a State as long as a person wants to. I believe he really means that people should be able to live at a place that represents its interest. Also he points out that people enter a particular society by a voluntary consent and therefore should have rights. These ideas sound like the world that we live in nowadays. Although we are not always able to leave a State or a Country very easily. The idea of entering a society by voluntary consent is what we do as immigrants.

From the Declaration of Independence I chose the most well know paragraph:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness (p. 59).

This paragraph talks about every important thing a democracy should be based on. It is very related to Adams' ideas of natural rights. Also, this piece of the Declaration of Independence talks about how government should preserve these rights. Furthermore, Adams as well as the Declaration of Independence express that a government who does not fulfill its purpose should be overthrown. I chose both of these quotes because they represent the idea of freedom that represents me and most of the people. Despite the fact that these ideals have not been achieved completely; they create the foundations for a better world.