Their ghosts must be smiling as a surge of states rights fervor sweeps the land.

The reactionaries are invoking interposition-style tactics on more than health care. They want to limit federal authority to use the National Guard (Orval would have liked that); to sidestep firearm laws; to legalize medical use of marijuana; to limit federal law enforcement authority.

Advertisement

The Constitution and court precedent would seem to make all these losers in the long run. (Well, maybe not court precedent, given the Roberts-Alito-Scalia-Thomas-Kennedy-Federalist Society court.)

As luck of timing would have it, Ernest Dumas has considered this legal development in a thoughtful column this week. An early view:

Advertisement

Be a part of something bigger

As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know we’re dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, we've been fighting the good fight in Little Rock and beyond – with your support, we can do even more. By becoming a subscriber or donating as little as $1 to our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage and continue to bring important stories to light. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, it's clear that our readers value our great journalism. Join us in the fight for truth.

Previous article The voice of democracy Next article Beware the social networks