WASHINGTON - July 25, 2010 - It has been reported that 46 states are on the verge of bankruptcy. Since states are constitutionally mandated to balance their budgets and do not possess the ability to print money, they’re finding themselves in a critically weakened position to challenge the federal government.

In our republic, states have sovereignty to create and enforce their own laws as long as they don’t violate the U.S. Constitution. The Tenth Amendment gives states the freedom from Federal laws and regulations if they deem them to be unconstitutional.

The Tenth Amendment, which makes explicit that the federal government is limited only to the powers granted it by the Constitution, is generally recognized to be a truism. States and local governments have occasionally attempted to assert exemption from various federal regulations, especially in the areas of labor and environmental controls, using the Tenth Amendment as a basis for their claim.

Recently, it seems the federal government is overstepping its authority and infringing on the sovereignty of states. Furthermore, given that many broke states will most certainly require a federal bailout to maintain their basic social structures, we can assume that the feds will use that to impose even stronger controls.

The federal government has clearly violated Kalifornia state law regarding medical marijuana by raiding state-approved legal dispensaries and grow-ops. Now, Obama and company are suing Arizona to overturn its new anti-illegal immigration law - which is essentially a reiteration of the federal law - just with plans to actually prosecute it.

Additionally, we have seen the steady erosion of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for local law enforcement.  Stories of active military and the National Guard helping local law enforcement on operations as routine as random traffic checkpoints and local crimes such as illegal gun and drug searches are becoming everyday news - clear violations of the Tenth Amendment.

It appears clear that the goal of the federal government is to centralize and consolidate its control as much as possible. Liberty advocates have a growing concern that states teetering on the verge of bankruptcy will require federal bailouts that will come with sovereignty-smashing strings attached. Based on the clear violations already exhibited by the federal government, we can only assume that more centralized oppression is on the way.