Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Investing

James Buckley and Federalism

by August 21, 2023
August 21, 2023
James Buckley and Federalism

Chris Edwards

I join Roger Pilon in expressing sadness at the passing of federal judge and U.S. senator James Buckley. I became acquainted with Jim when he was in his 90s, and I was so impressed that he was still actively considering policy issues and influencing public debate. James Buckley reached the century mark, and his mind was sharp until the end.

Jim emailed me out of the blue around 2013 asking whether he could come over and chat about my writings on federal aid to the states. Soon after, he pulled up his car to Cato having driven down from Connecticut, and we chatted for an hour or two. He had read my 2007 study on aid to the states and had been inspired to write a book on the topic.

Jim agreed with me that the massive system of more than 1,100 aid‐​to‐​state programs was awful and ought to be entirely repealed. In subsequent months, we emailed occasionally about points to include in his book, which was published in 2014. Saving Congress from Itself is quick read at 95 pages, and a great introduction to the reasons why reviving federalism would improve American governance.

“The United States faces two major problems today,” Jim began his book, “runaway spending that threatens to bankrupt us and a Congress that appears unable to deal with long‐​term problems of any consequence.” A key source of both problems, he said, is the centralization of spending and regulatory power in Washington stemming from the massive aid‐​to‐​state system.

Aid‐​to‐​state programs are bureaucratic, wasteful, and undermine democratic responsibility. They also overwhelm federal lawmakers with a vast range of policy topics they know little about. Jim noted, “Congress’s current dysfunction is rooted in its assumption, over the years, of more responsibilities than it can handle. As a result, its members now live a treadmill existence that no longer allows them time to study, learn, and think things through. Instead, they substitute political reflex for thought.”

Jim argued that repealing aid‐​to‐​state programs would allow the federal government to focus on truly national matters, put the government on sounder financial footing, and free the states to increase the quality of domestic programs.

I put Jim on my email list for my studies and opeds, and up to age 98 he was regularly responding with follow up questions and observations. So inspiring. Jim cared deeply about American freedom, and his book described one crucial way we can work to revive it.

Jim discusses his book here and you can find it on Amazon here. My main studies on federal aid are here and here.

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Change the Race Ratio finalises plans for independence from CBI
next post
Maui Wildfire Response Sure Looks Like Government Failure

You may also like

New IRS Guidance Makes the Inflation Reduction Act’s...

May 31, 2024

Just Say No to NATO Expansion

November 6, 2024

$9.3 Billion San Jose Subway Project Would Reduce...

May 30, 2023

FDIC Vice Chairman Travis Hill to Visit Cato...

September 18, 2023

A Reality Check on US Industrial Policy and...

June 14, 2024

The Original Sin of U.S. Health Policy

July 24, 2023

Four Things the Senate Can Do to Improve...

May 22, 2025

The AI Action Plan: Taking AI Innovation Seriously

July 28, 2025

The New Retaliation Tax, Section 899

June 10, 2025

Breaking Down Taiwan’s Arms Backlog, Part 1: Overview...

November 6, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson appointed to UK government advisory board

      August 29, 2025
    • Clarkson’s Farm credited with surge in agricultural college applications

      August 29, 2025
    • Helix Law uses AI to take on Metro Bank in $20m copyright case

      August 29, 2025
    • Small Business Saturday UK roadshow to tour 23 towns and cities this autumn

      August 29, 2025
    • UK seen as top destination for tech growth ahead of US, Europe and APAC, says Barclays

      August 29, 2025
    • Bipartisan fury at CDC: Senators demand probe, reject vaccine guidance as illegitimate

      August 28, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,920)
    • Investing (2,251)
    • Politics (16,510)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved