Michael Maharrey

It takes about 37 seconds of involvement in the political process to realize that most of the players don't root their actions in any principles. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that pragmatism is their principle. By and large, politics is all about seizing, consolidating and holding on to power. That's why..

I'm an optimist by nature. Even so, sometimes I become discouraged and frustrated. Activism certainly has its ups and downs, and the downs can become downright disillusioning. I had one of those nights earlier this week. I spoke at an event, passionately presenting the blueprint for rolling back overreaching federal power through nullification at the..

Sometimes I rail against people whose lives revolve around the next big ballgame or the next episode of American Idol. And sometimes I envy them. Every morning I wake up knowing I will find myself in some kind of fight. I never know where the attack will come from. Perhaps from a politician. Maybe from..

Daddy Bloomberg sometimes knows best. “I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom,” NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during an appearance on Meet the Press. Here's a question: do you believe that any person has some inherent attribute that makes him superior to you, and therefore innately bestowed with the..

I've decided I'm going to take a new approach to political activism. Instead of writing and speaking, you know, putting together reasoned arguments with facts and logic, I'm going to just start punching people that disagree with me. Apparently, in Tennessee state Senator Brian Kelsey's bizarre little world, this an acceptable way to "settle" disputes,..

On March 10, 2013, I spoke at the Tennessee Rally Against Obamacare in Nashville. I talked about the limited nature of federal authority and a state's duty when faced with a federal government exercising unconstitutional powers. "I'm going to put it very simply. There is no enumerated power for the federal government to run a..

My testimony before the Tennessee State Senate Judiciary Committee in support of SB0250 on February 27, 2013 Hello, my name is Michael Maharrey. I’m the national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center. I’m honored to be here. As you know, in the opinion of Attorney Gen. Robert Cooper, SB 250 violates the supremacy clause..

The following I wrote and submitted to the Colorado House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs in support of HB13-1045. The legislation would block federal indefinite detention without due process in Colorado. The Tenth Amendment Center began championing state interposition to block federal kidnapping powers written in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012..

Do you remember when you were in school and all of the “cool” popular kids made fun of the nerdy smart kid? Everybody pointed and laughed. Even the “non-cool” kids would pile on, in the hope that making fun of the hapless geek would elevate their own social status a notch. Of course, today that..

Note: This piece was originally written to counter anti-nullfication talking points in South Carolina. Nullification is historically, morally and philosophically the rightful remedy Doesn’t the Supremacy Clause make state nullification unconstitutional? No. The Supremacy Clause reads: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; …shall be the..