In my opinion I think we could make more progress at the state level than we can at the federal level at this point.
We're simply running into tremendous opposition from corporate interests with respect to things such as health care, public education, the environment, etc. With social issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and stem cell research, we run up into differences over cultural values.
I was wondering what you people feel on advancing through the avenue of states' rights.
For example, if we believe in the idea of universal health care, why not rally states that are more readily acceptable of the idea and establish a regional health care system where states that support it pool their revenues into one fund that would benefit the citizens of those respective states? States that want it can do it (blue states). States that don't want it (red states) won't have to do it.
There could conceivably be two regional health care systems comprising states in the northeast and states on the west coast, or if they wanted, they could combine the two systems into a bicoastal one and leave out all the states in the south and midwest that don't want it.
We could apply the same model to issues such as the environment and public education as well: Pooling resources together and fighting for reform and something better without fighting inside the federal government to do it.
This is not secession or sedition. This is a non-violent way towards change. If the south or midwest doesn't like liberalism, then that's fine, but we shouldn't throw up our hands and give up. Rather, we should continue to fight for our ideals in other arenas.
I mean, look at California and the
new emission standard they recently adopted. The Bush Administration and the Republicans have totally stonewalled efforts on these things. I cannot honestly believe so many people would actually vote for these corporatists.
Well, regardless, we should not have to suffer for their choices at the ballot box. If they choose to go one way, we should not have to be dragged along with them. We should strike out and move in our own direction. Let time tell which path was the correct one. With respect the California, I see it as a potential new way to deal with the splits in this country.
What do you people think? Do you think federalism could be a viable alternative?