So this is what it has come down to in the end? Federalism seems to be alive and strong these days, and it is definitely stronger than it should be. I know that I have discussed this topic once before, but I think it is worth a second go around. These days folks are demonstrating the very first debate this country witnessed, the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

In the beginning of this epic struggle, there were men who wanted to keep the relative freedoms granted by the Articles of Confederation and there were those who concluded that the Articles were not strong enough to keep national unity. Those who proposed the new Constitution wanted stronger bonds between the states and stronger power to deal with international difficulties. The compromise that won the Constitution's ratification and support from the anti-federalists was the Bill of Rights.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay argued for the ratification of a stronger constitution. The Constitution included the Bill of Rights submitted by James Madison. Without those 10 amendments, this country's government might not be so kind to its citizens. Imagine a country where freedom of speech was not guaranteed by the supreme document. Without specific words to the effect concerning the natural rights of the citizen, the government might run roughshod over the citizenry. One might argue also that such an event might occur much earlier in a country's history had the Bill of Rights not successfully won the day.

Now consider this, in June 1776, George Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights. In this document, 16 articles including freedom of the press, religion, separation of powers, protections against cruel and unusual punishments, etc. were indicative of a strong will to protect the common man from the powers that be within this government. George Mason, the author, was an Anti-Federalist. So was fellow Virginian Patrick Henry.

The main opposition to the new constitution by the Anti-Federalists concerned the power of the executive. Anti-Federalists thought that a strong executive branch under the control of one person might be too much power for the enemies of liberty, reason and freedom. Perhaps they were right after all.

The American government's strong executive branch has usurped power from the legislative and judicial branches through the decades. Take that argument back to the packing of the court under Franklin Roosevelt and the offering of incentives to congressional districts in the New Deal. Here Americans can witness firsthand the usurping of power and the breaking of the three branches.                        

Now for further consideration: The American Revolution occurred because of a perceived lack of representation and over-taxation. The people who protested against taxation were only a minority, but they were also doers and thinkers. Eventually, they won the day against the greatest power on earth. It certainly seems that this country might head down that path again. This government, no matter who runs it, needs much nourishment from the trough of the taxpayers. One day, King George might find an idle citizenry who are overtaxed and underrepresented.

If things look like they are black and white, they are. In this country, Americans seem to prefer government to operate in the black and white. No other nation in the world affords government the power of only two parties. Now we call the parties Democrat and Republican, but we might as well call them Federalist and Anti-Federalist in the current guise. If officials vote on a bill and there are three options, only two of which are important (aye and nay), then even the voting is black and white. Some like to assume there is a gray area somewhere but instead of arguing from that perspective, they perpetuate the argument of the black versus the white.

So the health care bill has nowhere to go in the Senate. Folks, that doesn't matter, the damage already has been done by earlier folly. Keynesian economics worked over the American public in the 1930s. It worked over Japan's economy in the 1980s. I would like to quote a fool from last Friday, "Let's hope deficit spending works to kick-start the economy."

Well then, let's hope if I rack up enough credit card debt it will take care of itself. That's the best of assumptions anyone can produce? Idiocy! What's this got to do with Federalism? It has everything to do with it. Federalism is this country's greatest addiction in the last 80 years.

I say now it is time to listen to common sense, or even to read it. The same arguments Thomas Paine gave in his pamphlet titled "Common Sense," exist in the same framework today. If one replaces gorging bloated fat power usurping King George with similar adjectives preceding Federal Government, one will find the pamphlet unconscionably modern. To hell with socialist extremism, it's time again for America to think for herself. So the argument has come full circle, Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist.

Adam Conkey, an Edmond native living in Hays, is the son of a Kansas farmer and a graduate of Fort Hays State University.