Withholding Federal funds is an incredibly powerful stick the Federal Government uses to make States comply with various regulations.
For example, "Make helmet laws in your state, or else we will withhold Federal highway funds."
The State needs those funds to keep their highways paved, their bridges standing, and their roads safe. So they pass a law that requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.
Now, consider that the whole Republican agenda is to cut taxes and regulation and funding for, well, pretty much everything.
Which means the Federal government will have far less money to throw around.
Which means the States will be freed up to choose to implement policies that right for them and their constituents, rather than kowtow to moronic Republican policies.
Like fighting climate change.
WA, CA, and NY - 25% of the US economy - have just told Trump to fuck off, and have chosen to keep the US's promises from Paris.
Coal and oil continue to plummet in use and value, as they are replaced by cheaper and cleaner technologies, and no amount of Republican hand-waving and bullshitting is going to change that. The innovation and creativity and business acumen of NY, CA, and WA is going to go where the future is: clean and renewable technologies and energy.
So even if the Republicant's stomp their itty bitty feet and hold their breath until they turn blue, innovation and advancement will continue. It always does.
What I am seeing here is the individual states stepping out of the shadow of the Federal Government, and into the light of leadership.
Arguably, CA has always been a leader (CARB, etc.) that has tried new things (like requiring catalytic converters), and then the Feds have followed.
But I wonder if the total ineptitude of the Republicans, and Trump in particular, and the power vacuum in Washington DC, will move the federalism needle back towards States Rights, and away from the current focus on DC? When DC is taking completely moronic policy stances, and doesn't have the money it once had to throw around... well, why listen to them at all?
For example... I wonder how totally emasculated and powerless the Federal Government would be, if the Governors of various US states stepped up and signed the Paris Agreement?
And refused to bid on building the wall?
And refused to employ anyone who worked in the Trump White House?
Seems to me a coalition of 3-5 Governors could be more powerful than the President and Senate, combined...
Three random thoughts. 1) The federal courts have the power to put a monkey wrench into some of this stuff. 2) Republicans love states rights when it benefits them and federal powers when it benefits them. Democrats are the same. It just seems to be that the emphasis is always on a case by case basis. 3) It's interesting to see that the world is full of corporations, cities, states, and other countries aren't hesitating to pick up the slack when Trump's policies don't align with popular consensus. I wonder if this is actually the way it's always been and I just haven't been paying attention until now or if this is something relatively new.
It's new. You know all those articles you've seen interpreting the election as a revolt against the professional class? What you're seeing is the professional class handling it.3) It's interesting to see that the world is full of corporations, cities, states, and other countries aren't hesitating to pick up the slack when Trump's policies don't align with popular consensus. I wonder if this is actually the way it's always been and I just haven't been paying attention until now or if this is something relatively new.