(Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Senator Thompson has another essay on federalism, this time at Townhall. There he explains some of the goods that federalism serves. It allows states to be “laboratories for democracy” and to reflect their citizens’ distinctive views. All true.

But sometimes federal action is required to make it possible for states to attain those goods. When big-city mayors, including Rudy Giuliani, sued gunmakers for, well, selling guns, Congress responded by passing a law blocking those lawsuits. Senator Thompson voted with the majority, and he was right to do so. Tennessee law can’t reflect the values of its people if its laws are effectively being set by New York City’s gaming of the legal system. Federal action was required to stop that from happening. Thompson saw that then; I just wish he saw that the gun case was the tip of an iceberg.

Incidentally, in case anyone is wondering, I’m still favorably disposed to a Thompson candidacy.