A Case in Point

Here's an interesting story from the Associated Press:

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

You can read the rest here.

Two key questions to consider next time you talk politics with someone else:
1. Why is this viewed as a fight between the states and the federal government?

A key feature of the Boston Tea party (for which the current Tea Party movement is named) was that it was staged in protest of taxation without representation. This is not the case today, for any state. All states have representation in Washington. So,

2. Wouldn't it be better to work through, say, electoral means to get the desired end?

Rhetorical third bonus question:
3. Does anybody, anywhere actually make an attempt to agree without being disagreeable?

If not, who is at fault? In broad terms, the Republicans are being obstructionist and the president is trying to get things done his way, with them or without them. This is no way to run a country.