Barber shows how arguments for states' rights from John C. Calhoun to the present offend common sense, logic, and bedrock constitutional principles. The Constitution is a charter of positive benefits, not a contract among separate sovereigns whose function is to protect people from the central government, when there are greater dangers to confront.
The book presents a compelling argument for a "welfarist" interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, rooted in the perspectives of Abraham Lincoln and the Federalist Papers. Sotirios Barber contends that the government has a constitutional obligation to promote the well-being of its citizens, challenging the prevailing belief that public officials should only focus on negative liberties. He emphasizes James Madison's assertion that the true welfare of the populace should be the primary goal of constitutional governance, offering a fresh lens on constitutional duties.