OPINION: National Issues are Decided Locally
If anything positive came from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was this: governors were shocked into realizing just how much power they possess. In a time of mask mandates, curfews and stay-at-home orders, state and local governments have acquired a lot of control in the direction their locality takes.
Americans tend to take local government for granted, focusing on glamorous elections such as the presidency or Congress. In reality, state and local governments carry important responsibilities that impact daily life and should be focused on more.
State and local government has a forgotten impact because Americans have been distracted by national politics.
The Founding Fathers intended for state government to be important. The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Our Founders intentionally reserved plenty of authority to states. States have simply allowed the federal government to assume more responsibilities. COVID-19 changed that trend, creating all-star governors that led their states with different protocol strategies.
Governors carry numerous responsibilities that have a tremendous effect on the state they govern. They have the final approval on all legislation and budgets and manage state executive agencies. Most recently, governors used emergency powers to respond to the health crisis of COVID-19.
What goes on in Washington, D.C. is important but does not have as large an effect as what your state government does. Many hot button issues are the states’ right to control but have been incorrectly nationalized.
Local government is responsible for the potholes in neighboring streets and the education of the next generation.
For example, an outcry from the culture wars in education has been on critical race theory (CRT). Parents should petition their local school boards instead of complain about the national government’s opinion. Joe Biden cannot put CRT in public schools, but local school boards can.
Another nationalized issue is the vaccine mandates. State officials and governors decide medical protocols for their state, not the national government. Those worried about future protocols or the lack thereof should not just petition the national government but rather their governor’s office.
The local and state issue of defunding the police has captured national attention. In summer of 2020, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked national protests. Policing and budgeting for that policing falls on the local government. On either side of the “Defund the Police” debate, the national government is not responsible for police budgeting, as it is the responsibility of local authorities.
These three issues — education, vaccines and policing — are at the center of an upcoming election for Virginia’s next governor. This election is important because solutions to these pressing topics are not decided in Washington, D.C., they are decided by governors. While these issues should remind Americans of the power state and local levels possess, they should serve to remind voters in Virginia the importance of voting.
The election between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin is an example of how important governors are to states. The issues discussed nationally are decided locally.
Browder is an opinion writer.