1,230

Federalism and its effects in crisis management.

Posted on by smoriarty

It seems as if federalism has reared its ugly head during the recent SARS-Cov-2 pandemic.

Federalism’s core ideas allow our country to thrive as a melting pot of ideas, where each state’s self-governance allows them to tackle societal issues with their own unique angle. Don’t like sports gambling? You can vote for representatives in your district who also don’t. Want to legalize marijuana? Same ideas apply.

The system is a great check on the power of larger states, and prevents their views on national policy from entirely dominating those of smaller states.

But for a national crisis such as the current pandemic, it creates a double-edged sword with potentially fatal consequences.

The idea of states choosing their own response plan sounds great in practice. If a state does not have any cases yet it doesn’t have to go to quite as extreme of a lockdown as one that’s facing down an outbreak, and other special circumstances each state faces can be handled accordingly.

Here’s the catch: not every state took this pandemic as seriously as the next. 7 states did not issue a stay-at-home order, later in the pandemic others lifted theirs much earlier than others, and many had different policies (which can actively be tracked here).

In a country where residents from one state encounter their neighbors from another on a frequent basis, this lack of cohesiveness undermines a large percentage of our country’s efforts to fight off this virus. This chart by NPR shows this effect to some degree, as every time I check for more information, there’s a constant pattern that amongst clusters of states that neighbor each other, being a healthy section of green, or a concerning array of yellows and oranges.

Our world doesn’t allow for each state to operate as its own (for lack of a better term) state. If you live or work in an area within 15-20 minutes of a state border, next time you shop (safely!), or go to work, count the out-of-state license plates. Of the 11 people who I closed with today at Dick’s Sporting Goods (New Hampshire), I counted 2 Maine plates, and 1 Massachusetts plate, and during shopping hours the percentage of out-of-staters is even higher.

People flock to nearby states to avoid income taxes, go to specialty shops, or maybe their location on a map is closer to a grocery store in another state than one in their own.

Each state has its own unique identity as well. Some states are known for being far conscious of other scientific issues such as climate change, and others are known for being more traditional in their values on the subject. This study by The Washington Post found that more conservative areas were less likely to obey corona-related regulations, and well known conservative states like Texas had less regulations regarding virus which led to spikes before other states who might’ve proceeded with more caution.

Countries with state/provincial systems can handle a pandemic situation too. Our neighbors to the north are far ahead of us in terms of cases, and had a much more uniform response across their country. Their response was based upon the advice of scientists, saw very little variation across the country, was they were much more reluctant to reopen than America was. 

Canada is still being cautious right now, with the Canadian Gov’t denying the Toronto Blue Jays the privilege to play in their home stadium without fans because of fears that it could spread the virus unnecessarily. The much more lackadaisical response here in America has encouraged athletes to return to play at all levels, despite the risks. Sports aren’t the measuring stick for success in society (otherwise Michael Phelps’ 28 medals would make him considered just as big of a player at the United Nations as India), but they are one of the most popular pastimes across the world, and their presence usually means some sense of normalcy.

America is too fluid for federalism in the midst of a crisis, because of how we’ve adapted to use federalism since the industrial era. State lines are important during the election cycle and in court, but not as much if you’re shopping for groceries or getting a nice lunch. But when managing a national emergency, perhaps policy that creates uniform solutions would help our country stay more stable.

At its best, federalism helps to protect some of the freedoms which allow for America to act as the melting pot of ideas and people that it strives to be, but at its worst, it creates a smorgasbord of solutions which struggle to come together and fix the problems they were supposed to.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Uncategorised

smoriarty

More Posts

1,230 Comments

  1. I finally found great post here.I will get back here. I just added your blog to my bookmark sites. thanks.Quality posts is the crucial to invite the visitors to visit the web page, that’s what this web page is providing. entrepreneur politics

  4. Looking at your post, I regret not being able to do outdoor activities due to COVID-19, and I miss my old daily life. If you miss your daily life, could you visit my site? My site is a site where I post pictures and daily lives when I am free. 메이저토토사이트

  5. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful information. Thank you very much. You always have humor in your posts. It’s so fun and easy to read. When can I request a review?! 메이저토토사이트

  7. Aus meiner Erfahrung, kann eine Geldquelle zum Leben sein.
    Das einzige, das ich empfehlen kann, ist mr bet 10€, weil die Leute ihm vertrauen.
    Ich konnte nicht glauben, dass ich mit Spaß Geld verdienen kann. Außerdem ist es unglaublich, dass ich nicht den ganzen Tag arbeiten muss, um genug Geld zu haben.

  12. Thanks for this great post. Waiting for the next post.
    We would like to introduce to you something really great for you.
    That is IT Support in Enfield . Leading ICT Support company in London – Go Live UK.
    Strategic IT Support ™ Team for the Construction and Financial Industries providing critical protection for computer networks and digital assets, EnfieldIT Support. IT Support and Services Enfield, Cybersecurity services, IT Help desk, IT managed services, IT consultants.
    Check out for more details.
    https://it-company.goliveuk.com/it-support-in-enfield/

  14. Going to graduate school was a positive decision for me. I enjoyed the coursework, the presentations, the fellow students, and the professors. And since my company reimbursed 100% of the tuition, the only cost that I had to pay on my own was for books and supplies. Otherwise, I received a free master’s degree. All that I had to invest was my time. entrepreneur breaking news

  15. I was very pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and Gsquare have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.Read More: Mobile App Development Company

  16. I was very pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and Gsquare have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.Read More:

  17. This is a good post. This post gives truly quality information. I’m definitely going to look into it. Really very useful tips are provided here. Thank you so much. Keep up the good works. แทงบอลUFABALL77

  19. Your content is nothing short of brilliant in many ways. I think this is engaging and eye-opening material. Thank you so much for caring about your content and your readers. Directorio Web

  20. You have a real ability for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article. I agree with your way of thinking. Thank you for sharing. Alta en Directorios

  21. I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. go to website

  22. I’m writing on this topic these days, baccarat online, but I have stopped writing because there is no reference material. Then I accidentally found your article. I can refer to a variety of materials, so I think the work I was preparing will work! Thank you for your efforts.

  25. You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared. 핸드폰 소액결제 현금화

  31. wahyupoker
    Banyaknya contoh keberhasilan bisnis secara online serta meningkatnya kebutuhan hidup yang kian beragam menjadi pelengkap besarnya animo masyarakat luas.

  32. Realize a professional website design for a dream business that is easy to manage.
    Get a website creation package according to your business needs. Click this link maybe useful for you Jasa web medan

  33. Interesting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. Thanks a ton for sharing your knowledge! It is great to see that some people still put in an effort into managing their websites. I’ll be sure to check back again real soon. แทงบอลออนไลน์

  39. I like viewing web sites which comprehend the price of delivering the excellent useful resource free of charge. I truly adored reading your posting. Thank you!
    check over here

  40. I really thank you for the valuable info on this great subject and look forward to more great posts. Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty article with me. I am appreciating it very much! Looking forward to another great article. Good luck to the author! All the best! tusmundo

  41. judi slot Online slots have become one of the most popular games in recent years. With the rise of online gaming, players can now experience the thrill of playing slots from the comfort of their own homes.

  43. harta 138 login

    Easily, the article is actually the best topic on this registry related issue. I fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your next updates. Just saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the fantasti c lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates.

  47. https://godmake.com/
    Sometimes, it’s hard to put your trust in God and sometimes his plan may seem wrong to you, that time is exactly when you need extra motivation, an extra push to help you move forward. A helper’s hand to guide you through the journey of self-love and his greatness

  49. sous traitance
    Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may come back very soon. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great job, have a nice weekend.

  50. It’s the same topic , but I was quite surprised to see the opinions I didn’t think of. My blog also has articles on these topics, so I look forward to your visit. bitcoincasino

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *