Brutkey

Deep Breath; Start Again
@caban4@mastodon.online

https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/its-time-for-americans-to-start-talking?r=oq84&triedRedirect=true When the federal govt starts breaking the law, it's time for blue states to coordinate their actions to preserve democracy. Surprised but happy to hear that things have been in the works for years! #uspol #progressives #Democracy #uspolitics

mmalc
@mmalc@mastodon.social

@caban4@mastodon.online

Sent as a physical letter, November 15, 2024

Summary: Build a coalition of states to absorb federal agencies ruined by Trump.

Dear Governor Newsom,

Summary: Build a coalition of states to absorb federal agencies ruined by Trump.

In more detail:
It seems likely that the new administration will devastate many government agencies that not only house experts in their respective fields but a treasure trove of institutional knowledge. Once these are destroyed, it will take years to restore them, if they ever can be.

Rather than resigning ourselves to this fate, I'd suggest "we" should jiu-jitsu the GOP by removing the agencies from under the federal government and establishing them in the trust of a coalition of states.

This will not be cheap, but as the GOP reduces the size of government, they also reduce its power - and the requirements for financial support from states. Democrat-run states already, on average, contribute more to the federal government than they receive in return. In the future, this imbalance seems only set to increase (e.g. support from FEMA to east coast states such as Florida in the aftermath of hurricanes).

This would be a bold strategy, and doubtless not without risk ("states' rights" only ever seem to apply to red states); however, it's not clear what other actions might actually save the agencies, information, and knowledge that we will collectively depend on in the future (especially in the domains of health and climate protection).

Sincerely yours,

Malcolm Crawford