The Morning Blog, Again with the Middle of the Night, Editon

The Republicans in Congress have been complaining quite a bit about the rather frenzied (but good), efforts of Democrats to pass through legislation during the lame duck session of Congress. In an effort to provide a sense of proportion, the Venezuelan National Assembly has granted Hugo Chavez the power of decree. In a nutshell, he's been granted authority by the outgoing congress, to rule without legislative input until 2012. Makes that whole Don't Ask, Don't Tell vote that was pushed through by outgoing Democrats seem a trifle less heavy handed, don't you think?

A Constitutional amendment has been proposed that would allow a two-thirds majority of state legislatures to overturn any federal regulation or law. Now first of all, the chances of something like this passing are extraordinarily slim. Generally, I support limitations on federal power. But if this amendment were to pass, I would have a few issues with it:

First of all, I'd be much, much happier if it strictly empowered states to strike regulations aimed at individual liberty. For example, if two-thirds of state legislatures came to their senses and agreed that the War on Drugs was a war waged by the federal government almost entirely against Americans and struck down laws against individual consumption, I'd be quite happy. However, the power remains open to strike down regulations restricting the power of the feds: For example, two thirds of state legislatures could conceivably strike down a law barring the government from using tax dollars to support religious incentives. Or for that matter, barring federal departments from considering race, ethnicity, religion or gender in their employment policies.

Second, this amendment would grant enormous powers to states with very small populations. Currently, the balance of power between the large states and the smaller states is handled by our bicameral legislature. But this sort of thing would give Wyoming for example, the same power over the enactment of federal law as California. To give a sense of scale, let's check Wikipedia: California is home to 36,961,664 people and is one of the worlds 10th largest economies. Wyoming is home to 544,270 citizens, 55,387 fewer than the city of Washington DC.

Your daily Ick! Gross!

On a personal note: Realizing that I wouldn't have time to write about much of anything this morning, I instead bookmarked a ton of articles for my later inspection. You're reading up on a few of them now. However, quite a few have proven either less than riveting now that I've actually taken the time to read them (this piece about Chinese liquor for example) or else very engrossing but very long (Hello, Top Secret America!). The point being, this might not be one of my better Morning Blogs. Especially because it's nearly one in the morning. Sorry if it's shoddy, hope you enjoy what I decide to throw out here.

Looks like H.R. Giger has signed on for the new Alien movie. Glad to hear it! It's high time the younger generation was traumatized by extraterrestrials with horrible, penis-tongues! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

I don't care if there are health benefits. This is your new and improved daily dose of Ick! Gross!

Interesting post over at the Guardian, UK commemorating te 150th anniversary of the Civil War. To wit: The Secession of South Carolina.

I happen to really love the South and its people. Frankly, I find Nashville TN to be substantially better integrated than Pittsburgh PA. And I do agree with this line from the post:

A century and a half after the civil war, many white Americans, especially in the South, seem to take the idea that slavery caused the war as a personal accusation

I can agree with that to a point. When the idea of reparations are raised, as the descendant of an officer in the Union army, I have a difficult time grasping what I owe Michael Jordan. That said...

The war was about slavery. Accept it. I've heard the states rights arguments, I've heard it called the "War of Northern Aggression", I"m tired of it. If anyone is in able to present me with any sort of credible scenario where the Civil War would occur absent slavery, I'm happy to hear it.

And finally...

Because it's almost Christmas: A new species of mistletoe! Rather than kissing, if you stand under this one you're expected to glare resentfully at your significant other!