How the politics of Federalism shifts based on specific advantage – If you have a better chance at the federal level, you go there. If you have a better chance at the state level, you go there. Straight forward self-interest.
Aside
Comments are closed.
Wow, that was an amazing article (and it mentioned Justice Brandeis). It’s true. I’m usually a very nationalist person, but on same-sex marriage I’m very “leave it to the states” right now because there is no possibility of winning on the national level (for my side at least).
The collective action problem that he/she talks about in his/her theory of post-federalism is really true. I would even put this on businesses where none are going to be environmentally friendly voluntarily because they are all in a race to the bottom to keep costs down. I generally like more national social policies too, but I like his arguments against them. I’m mostly in it for simplicity and the fact that I see some social policies (slavery, discrimination, not having same-sex marriage, et al) to be morally wrong. Then again, I could just stay in Massachusetts which could implement all the social policies I like and live in my little world. But I’m a bit too anal to just let chaos reign outside of my area even if it has no effect on me.
Amazing read and I really think that a world economic government and then social governments on as local levels as possible would be excellent.