Why Paul Preston, Founder & President of New California State, Gov Pro Tempore, Asked Us to Study the Federalist Papers Right Now?
Paul sent an email to both the Senate and the Assembly — and all the committees — that legislative meetings are on hold until the end of April.
Instead of rushing into new laws, we are to use this time for workshops and to study The Federalist Papers.
On the public call he repeated the same message: slow down, go back to first principles, prepare our minds for what is coming.
I felt the weight of that decision. At first it seemed strange — why pause when things are moving so fast? But the more I sat with it, the more it made sense. We are in one of the most important moments in American history.
Wealth and power are shifting. Old systems are cracking. Many of us feel hopeful, confused, excited, or even fearful all at the same time. In moments like this, the wisest thing a leader can do is make sure we are standing on solid ground before we start building.
The Federalist Papers are not just old history.
They are 85 essays written in 1787–1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. They were published in newspapers under the name “Publius” to persuade ordinary citizens — especially in New York — to ratify the new Constitution.
These men had just fought a revolution against tyranny. They knew how dangerous government could become if it was given too much power. So they wrote these essays to explain, in plain language, why the Constitution was designed the way it was.
They are not a rule book. They are a conversation — deep, thoughtful, and sometimes fierce — about how to protect liberty in a fallen world.
Paul is not telling us what to think. He is inviting us to think together from the foundation.
That is why this format feels right: iron sharpens iron. We read, we reflect, we discuss, and we sharpen one another. None of us has the full picture yet. We are all learning.
Let me share with you the five Federalist Papers that I believe are most important for us right now in New California. I will explain them simply, the way I wish someone had explained them to me years ago.
Federalist No. 10 – The Danger of Factions
Madison explains that when people get together in groups that share the same strong passion or interest (he calls them “factions”), they can become dangerous. They start to push their own agenda, even if it harms the rest of society. A small democracy makes this problem worse because a single faction can easily take over. But a large republic, with many different groups and interests, makes it much harder for any one faction to control everything.
For us in NCS, New California State, this paper is a warning and a guide. It reminds us why we must protect strong county-level power and real checks and balances. If one group — whether it is a political party, a religious movement, or a special interest — gains too much control, liberty suffers. The Constitution was designed to make that harder. This is why county sovereignty matters so much.
Federalist No. 39 – What Kind of Government Is This?
Madison answers the question directly: we are a republic, not a pure democracy. Power is split between the federal government and the states. The federal government only has specific powers listed in the Constitution. Everything else belongs to the states or the people. This is federalism — the idea that the national government should be limited, and most daily life should be governed closer to home.
This paper is the foundation for everything we are trying to build in New California State. It tells us that states and counties are not just branch offices of Washington or Sacramento. They have real, sovereign authority under the Constitution. When we talk about county senators acting as constitutional stewards, we are standing on this exact principle.
Federalist No. 45 – The Powers of the Federal Government vs. the States
Madison is very clear: the federal government’s powers are few and defined. The states’ powers are many and broad. Most things that affect people’s daily lives — education, local law enforcement, property rights, agriculture, family matters — were meant to stay under state and local control.
This paper feels especially alive right now. We are watching a massive power shift away from coastal concentrations. The Federalist Papers remind us that this is not a bug — it is the design. Power was supposed to be closer to the people, not concentrated in a few cities or in Washington.
Federalist No. 51 – Checks and Balances
This may be the most famous one. Madison writes that the best way to stop any one part of government from becoming too powerful is to divide the power and make the different branches check each other. His famous line is: “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”This is the paper that explains why we need strong separation of powers and why county senators must act as constitutional stewards. No single person, no single branch, no single level of government should ever have unchecked power. This protects liberty.
Federalist No. 78 – The Role of the Courts
Hamilton explains that the courts are the “least dangerous” branch because they have no money and no army. Their only job is to interpret the Constitution and strike down any law that violates it. Judges must be independent from politics so they can protect the people from unconstitutional actions.
This paper reminds us that the courts are supposed to be the final guardian of the Constitution — not a tool for whoever is in power at the moment.
These five essays give us the core DNA of the American Republic: limited federal power, strong states and counties, checks and balances, and courts that protect the Constitution.
But Paul is not asking us to stop there. He wants us to study these papers so we can think clearly about the bigger battle we are in — the seed war that has been going on since Genesis, the mix of lies and truth that creates the thick veil, the Great Divide, and the Great Reset that is unfolding before our eyes.
We are living in the 250th anniversary season of the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln closed the 200th anniversary chapter with the Homestead Act and the preservation of the Union. Now we stand at the beginning of a new era. God is making all things new.
The old petroleum-based, debt-based, centralized system is fracturing. The power is shifting from the coasts inward. Many feel the gloom of this change. But this is not the end.
The old petroleum-based, debt-based, centralized system is fracturing. The power is shifting from the coasts inward. Many feel the gloom of this change. But this is not the end.
This is the beginning of the Thy Kingdom come on earth era — where counties become sovereign stewards, land is healed, people are healed, and prosperity is shared instead of hoarded.
This is where our 9 Branches and 3-track plan come in. They are not just nice ideas. They are practical tools for this reset:
- Freedom Zones heal the broken and the dependent.
- Large Homestead Properties empower motivated stewards.
- Small Residential Parcels and Urban Apartments give everyday families the dignity of home and land.
All three tracks use existing funds wisely. They reduce waste. They create jobs. They heal land and people. They restore shared prosperity.
I don’t have all the answers. None of us do. That is why this format feels right — iron sharpens iron. We read, we reflect, we discuss, and we sharpen one another. What do you think?
Have you started reading the Federalist Papers?
Which parts stand out to you?
How do you see them applying to New California right now? Let’s talk. Let’s sharpen one another.
Have you started reading the Federalist Papers?
Which parts stand out to you?
How do you see them applying to New California right now? Let’s talk. Let’s sharpen one another.
Thy Kingdom come — on earth as it is in Heaven.
Iron sharpens iron. This is my first essay in this series. I openly share it and welcome your thoughts, wisdom, sharpening, and collaboration. If this stirs something in your heart, I would love to hear from you.