I think I like this guy–Judge Andrew Napolitano, the Fox News commentator whom I mentioned in a previous post.
As I mentioned, what first impressed me was a Reason article where he said he would nominate Ron Paul to the Supreme Court.
The following is also impressive, from a Reason interview:
Napolitano: First thing we should do [to end “constitutional chaos”] is abolish the 16th Amendment. That would make the income tax unconstitutional, which is what it was until we enacted the 16th Amendment (even though we had two income taxes before then). That of course would starve much of the federal government out of existence. […] I would change the third word of the Constitution from people to states because it was the states, not the people, who enacted the Constitution. And I would put the word expressly back in the 10th Amendment [before delegated], which is where it was until it was removed by a political maneuver before the final document was sent to the states for ratification. I would define the word regulate in the Interstate Commerce Clause in its true meaning, which is “to make regular,” not to control every aspect of interstate commerce. In my world, the federal government would be dependent upon the states and excise taxes for its financial wherewithal. It would be limited in its scope to the 18 powers given to it by the Constitution. The states would legislate for the health, safety, welfare, and morality of the people. All government would be required to respect the natural rights of everyone.
Reason: Besides Thomas More, who are your heroes?
Napolitano: I am a great admirer of the work of [Austrian economist] Ludwig von Mises. He was a true believer that the engine of freedom will make us safer, happier, more culturally admirable, and ultimately give us the freedom to go to heaven. I am a greater admirer of St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei. He taught that any human being by his personal behavior can aspire to sainthood.
I think I might have to get his book Constitutional Chaos : What Happens When the Government Breaks Its Own Laws.
1:20 am on July 5, 2005
