"A Republic if you can keep it" is among one of my favorite quotes by Benjamin Franklin.  Meaning of course maintaining the balance between federal and state governments.

 So often we see the Obama Administration stepping into areas better left to the states as noted under our 10th amendment.  The Federalist Papers for example, noted the areas of taxation,militia and commerce was best left to the federal government, while that which was not granted to the federal government and not prohibited to the states was left to the states and it's people.