We have all heard or even read many of the Federalist Papers. But some may not even be aware that there was a counterargument made by the Antifederalists. And they made a paper too. Just like Hamilton/Jay/Madison. And signed by pen name. Men such as Patrick Henry, George Mason, James Monroe, George Clinton and others opposed the ratification of the Constitution but were unsuccessful in preventing it. But we do owe the bill of rights to the anti-federalists. They forced the issue.
It is interesting that we are currently living in times where the precise fears of the anti federalists - a distrust in "merchants and industrialists" along with a potential overly powerful centralized government with a President acting as a de facto monarch - have come true. It's a worthy endeavor to read these.
From Anti Federalist #67 discussing the utter worthlessness of the office of vice president:
"The establishment of a vice-president is as unnecessary as it is dangerous. This officer, for want of other employment, is made president of the senate, thereby blending the executive and legislative powers, besides always giving to some one state, from which he is to come, an unjust pre-eminence."
They are right. The vice president is worthless. Nothing to do. And idle hands are the devil's workshop. People can pretend there is a need for the office in the event something happens to the President. But our current plan brings members of Congress into the line of succession along with members of the executive cabinet. We don't need a bogus job like VP to maintain a means to deal with an incapacitated or deceased president.
We have all heard or even read many of the Federalist Papers. But some may not even be aware that there was a counterargument made by the Antifederalists. And they made a paper too. Just like Hamilton/Jay/Madison. And signed by pen name. Men such as Patrick Henry, George Mason, James Monroe, George Clinton and others opposed the ratification of the Constitution but were unsuccessful in preventing it. But we do owe the bill of rights to the anti-federalists. They forced the issue.
It is interesting that we are currently living in times where the precise fears of the anti federalists - a distrust in "merchants and industrialists" along with a potential overly powerful centralized government with a President acting as a de facto monarch - have come true. It's a worthy endeavor to read these.
From Anti Federalist #67 discussing the utter worthlessness of the office of vice president:
http://resources.utulsa.edu/law/classes/rice/Constitutional/AntiFederalist/67.htm
"The establishment of a vice-president is as unnecessary as it is dangerous. This officer, for want of other employment, is made president of the senate, thereby blending the executive and legislative powers, besides always giving to some one state, from which he is to come, an unjust pre-eminence."
They are right. The vice president is worthless. Nothing to do. And idle hands are the devil's workshop. People can pretend there is a need for the office in the event something happens to the President. But our current plan brings members of Congress into the line of succession along with members of the executive cabinet. We don't need a bogus job like VP to maintain a means to deal with an incapacitated or deceased president.