4 ms·
> I sometimes think that if Congress hadn't pissed all over the Constitution's federalist design in the 1960's, we'd still have segregation today. I don't, but
by bmelton 12y ago
> I sometimes think that if Congress hadn't pissed all over the Constitution's federalist design in the 1960's, we'd still have segregation today.
I don't, but only because, at best, I see the actions of Congress as a lagging indicator of societal will. That enough people in society demanded Congress act enough to force them into action enough to piss all over federalism is indicative that society had already come along and made its point. Had there not been enough people wanting it, Congress wouldn't have acted.
I mean, unless we take it as a given that the CRA's biggest aim (by the government) was really a ploy to grab additional power at the expense of the Commerce Clause.
- rayiner 12y agoThe actions of Congress lag behind the will of the 50th percentile person, but not behind the 90th percentile person. That is to say that once 51% of people decide something is wrong, they can act through Congress to force the other 49% to stop doing that thing.
- harryh 12y agoHave you read about what desegregation of schools in Alabama was like? That certainly doesn't sound like a society that was ready for federal action. The National Guard was federalized and had to push aside the Governor and crowds of protesting white people.
- bmelton 12y agoI have. That some people clearly weren't ready for it doesn't mean that the majority of society wasn't. That said, despite all the negative publicity, there were plenty of sympathizers in Alabama happily swimming against the tide in favor of desegregation.
- harryh 12y agoWhat constitutes society though? The majority of the US as a whole? The majority of Alabama? The majority of the city of Tuscaloosa?
- ArkyBeagle 12y agoI would not underestimate the sheer force of will that was Lyndon Baines Johnson. He was a master manipulator. He doesn't even win the 20th Century for that; it's entirely possible that one Wayne Wheeler was personally largely responsible for Prohibition. I'd call Prohibition a larger ... thing. But Johnson was formidable; he's been called the most effective legislator in US history. People would have been variably ready for this. There's an argument that says we're still not really ready.