“The War between the States... produced the foundation for the kind of government we have today: consolidated and absolute, based on the unrestrained will of the majority, with force, threats, and intimidation being the order of the day. Today's federal government is considerably at odds with that envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. ... [The War] also laid to rest the great principle enunciated in the Declaration of Independence that 'Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed'.”

Yes, in truth, the real American republic is no more. The defeat of the secessionists signafied the shift from a 'federal' government to a 'national' one thus ending state sovereignty and the inalienable rights of the People. It set the stage for a slew of nationalist (i.e. autocratic) 'amendments' to the Constitution centralizing control into the hands of Washington bureacrats instead of keeping power and responsibility distributed among the sovereign states. History is written by the victors.

A book to read "The South Was Right."

Well said Archer

I THINK ITS TIME WE TOOK OUR GUNS OUT OF THE DRAWERS AND CLOSETS, IT LOOKS LIKE WAR ON THE HORIZON

Too bad professor Williams isn't allowed to be a "black leader."

What color the professor is dosen't matter, what he says does!

How do we go about taking back power from the Federales though, short of armed rebellion? That would be really bad in economic terms.

Walter is the no 1 economics teacher in the world as far as I am concerned. He simplifies everything down to common sense. That is very uncommon indeed.

Always appreciated Walter Williams.

Lincoln only wanted to centralize all power in Washington. He didn't give a hoot about slavery.

Well Bob one small correction please. What color the professor is "shouldn't" matter. But it does as people from his own race who could benefit most from his wisdom reject him because to them he represents the enemy and the tool of the white man oppressors,
This is black liberation theology critical race theory.

This is the fruit of the LBJ Great Society it destroyed their families and rendered them dependent on the government, the dependency that enslaves them more because they are willing and the chains are now in their minds and woe unto the black person that discovers the truth and tries to flee the liberal Democrat plantation.

I remember a quote from LBJ "I'll have those ni**ers voting Democrat for 200 years." I guess he was right, the man knew human nature, for it was better to give a fish a day then to teach them to fish that way they assure devotion to their new masters. To the so-called black leaders /new overseers Professor Williams is just another runaway slave!

You are right Jim, the truth about Abraham Lincoln is getting out past the historical gatekeepers. Books like " Lincoln Unmasked" and "The Real Abraham Lincoln," along with the other book that was mentioned earlier.

I have stopped calling it "the Civil War" these days I referred to it as The War of Northern Aggression because that's exactly what it was! I believe we're moving in that direction again but I believe that nullification will be tried before secession, but most certainly we are on the path to a confrontation of one sort or another, why else would they be so desperate to disarm us!

The erudite and well-read MAY read Walter Williams in a different way from those of we self-described ignoramuses who don't know he's black. Hence, the phrase "color-blind," which MAY color people's interpretation of his words. I wonder if the blacks who know he's black consider his words in a different way than those who don't know he's black -- or -- those of us who are white ? AND -- Poor Abe; poor Anybody whose entire life ( body and soul ) can now be attacked while s/he, being dead, is unable to defend that same body and soul.

Truth is color blind, like faith, it cares not at Liberty whomsoever takes that STAND. We are all Americans. " color blind. The Civilian Army Rises again for that Sacred Cause of Liberty and Freedom. !
SEMPER FI

Let your mind run rampant, with truth of history and creativity, and never give up hope or your guns ! !
topfloor2@gmail.com - texas State

I have high admiration for Walter, and I don't entirely disagree with his argument here.  Much of the positioning about the validity of the Civil War has to do with slavery.  The case that it was technically about the right of secession is strong, but the reality of slavery as the basis for secession is just as strong.  As in the Declaration of Independence the consent of the governed is a key part of the argument. 
I have come to the opinion that when "the governed" are all subject to the same laws and treated equally it is a reasonable standard.  But if a selected segment of the governed (the blacks, in this case) is subject to different laws and rules then their consent is also required for that government to be legitimate.

This quote is uncoordinated at best, baloney at the least. We are an evolutionary being. We are the governed, but you should never forget you are the government as well if you are a mature responsible citizen. Speak out lucidly, coordinately, elequently and we move in the correct direction of life, liberty, and happiness.