The transition of the United States from a republic founded on limited governmental powers to a so-called "managerial state" where government significantly controls the lives of its citizens. The author outlines key historical events and decisions that contributed to this shift.
1. Constitutional Foundations (1788): The original U. S. Constitution aimed to limit federal power, but the "Necessary and Proper Clause" allowed Congress to interpret its powers broadly. This opened the door for implied powers, leading to increased federal authority.
2. The Pendleton Act (1883): Following the assassination of President Garfield, this act established a permanent civil service and reduced presidential hirability of government employees. This shift meant that federal employees were insulated from direct political accountability.
3. Flexner Report (1910): This report transformed medical education and reinforced allopathic medicine, marginalizing alternative healthcare methods. Its legacy continues to influence healthcare policies and practices in favor of a centralized medical system.
4. Woodrow Wilson and the Federal Reserve (1913): Wilson emphasized a professional class of civil servants independent of political pressure. The establishment of the Federal Reserve marked a significant move toward economic management by an independent central authority.
5. Income Tax and the 16th Amendment (1913): This amendment enabled Congress to impose income taxes without apportioning them among the states, creating a progressive tax system that expanded the government's financial capability and reach.
6. JW Hampton v United States (1928): This case marked the end of strict nondelegation doctrine, allowing Congress to delegate legislative power to the executive branch which paved the way for an expansion of administrative authority.
7. The New Deal (Early 1930s): FDR's New Deal fundamentally altered the role of government in society, shifting it toward providing welfare and economic protection to citizens, fostering a dependency on federal assistance.
8. End of the Gold Standard: The suspension of the gold standard allowed the government greater freedom in printing money, enabling inflation and increasing national debt, distancing the economy from the original value system tied to gold.
9. Civil Rights Act (1964): This act imposed regulations on private behavior, expanding federal authority into the conduct of private citizens, thus challenging traditional limitations on governmental power and oversight.
10. Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (1984): This Supreme Court decision granted federal agencies the power to interpret their own authority, effectively allowing bureaucracies to determine the limits of their influence without legislative checks.
11. Covid-19 Response: The government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic exemplified the extent of administrative power, imposing regulations that drastically restricted civil liberties and overwhelming personal autonomy in favor of public health directives.
The path to America's current managerial state was shaped by critical legislative changes, judicial rulings, and societal shifts. Initially designed as a republic with limited government powers, the U. S. Constitution allowed the rise of a centralized administrative framework that today governs extensive aspects of daily life. The evolution from a republic to a planned and regulated society has significantly altered the relationship between citizens and their government, shifting individual duties and responsibilities toward a dependency on government solutions.
https://brownstone.org/articles/how-the-american-republic-became-a-managerial-state/