One of the grievances the signers of the Declaration of Independence had against King George was, “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.” While technically not an army, which Noah Webster defines as “A collection or body of men armed for war, and organized in companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions, under proper officers.”
A quick look at modern police forces makes me wonder. Does it make a difference if the body of men and women are organized in companies, battalions, regiments, etc., or in squads, precincts, and districts? Does it matter that federal law enforcement is kept among us without the consent of our state legislatures?
Based on the recent actions of the FBI, ATF, and DOJ, along with the legislation to expand the law enforcement arm of the IRS, I have to ask. Has the federal government turned America into a police state, or are they merely keeping standing armies among us?
The Constitution Study with Paul Engel on America Out Loud Talk Radio can be heard weekdays at 4 pm ET. Listen on iHeart Radio, our world-class media player, or our free apps on Apple, Android, or Alexa. Listen to other episodes of The Constitution Study, available on podcast.
https://www.americaoutloud.com/police-state-or-standing-army/
Who is in charge of your children? That has been a perennial question that has grown in importance over the last few years. When I was a child, it was understood that, with rare exceptions, parents were in charge of a child’s upbringing. This included medical, religious, and educational decisions. However, over the last few decades, the role of the parent in these decisions has been replaced by experts. What happens when the goal of the experts differs from those of the parents? Who decides the future of the rising generations? It was understood that the state acted in loco parentis, in place of the parents, only for the safety of the child. A recent case in U.S. District Court shows that be it health departments, child services, schools, or even the courts. Government not only believes they know better than the parents, they are more than willing to act in loco parentis tyrannis.
https://constitutionstudy.com/?p=8897
With the release of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) applications, there has been a lot of speculation and downright assertions about our future. With over 30 years of experience in Information Technology (IT), not more than a passing understanding of AIs, I've come to the conclusion that much of what I've heard is more science fiction than fact. A recent court case decided in the D.C. District Court revolved around one very important question. Do AIs have rights?
In this third installment of the three-part series on the branches of government, we look at the role of the third and weakest branch. At least that is what our Founding Fathers thought of it. What is the role of the federal judiciary? What are the extent of their powers, how do they related to the other two branches of government, and why is a proper understanding of the role of the judiciary critical if the United States is to remain a constitutional republic?
https://constitutionstudy.com/?p=8575
How far can a state go to regulate the right to bear arms? Can a state override a person’s property rights? Can Hawaii proactively prohibit lawful gun owners from carrying on private property without owners prior consent? That is the question in the Supreme Court case Wolford v. Lopez.
https://constitutionstudy.com/2026/02/23/511-private-property-vs-gun-control/
One of the advantages of the United States is the independence of our states. Remember, the states created the federal government not the other way around. The problem is, so much attention is focused on Washington, D.C., we sometimes forget to look at what are states are doing. - Live 4PM ET with Host Paul Engel @CyberEngel @OutLoudNews
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I’ve always found the saying, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” both insightful and a bit disturbing. Yes, it reminds us there there is often more than one way to achieve our goals. But where are these people skinning cats?
I guess that adage is true. Because recent events show there is more than one way to infringe on people’s rights. - Live 4PM ET with Host Paul Engel @CyberEngel @OutLoudNews
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