Academy of Local Politics

I admit I am a Local Government Junkie. I dabble in State and National politics, but my true love of politics is at the local level. Some people don't understand that.  OK, most people don't understand that. They think the real action is especially at the National level.

I was doing some research for a speech and came across the old textbook, Politics in States and Communities, by Thomas R. Dye. A passage in this book explains in much better words than I can, why I believe the real action is not at the National level.

“States and communities in America operate the world’s largest public school system and highway network. They operate most of the nation’s judicial, welfare, police, health, correctional and recreational facilities. Most regulation of industry, banking, commerce, utilities, labor, and protection of public safety is in the hands of state and local governments. Their programs in conservation, sanitation, social work, housing, and urban planning are vital to the day-to-day lives of all Americans. Even when the national government is involved in these programs, states and communities must decide whether to participate in national programs, and if they participate, they must administer the programs within their jurisdictions. Despite the glamour of national politics, states and communities carry on the greatest volume of public business, settle the greatest number of political conflicts, make the majority of policy decisions, and direct the bulk of public programs. They have the major responsibility for maintaining domestic law and order, for educating the children, for moving Americans from place to place, and for caring for the poor and the ill...In short, states and communities are by no means unimportant political systems.”

I get a real kick out of hearing these Presidential candidates making promises I know they can't keep because quite frankly they don't have the power to keep them. Because, as Mr. Dye eloquently stated...

Even when the national government is involved in these programs, states and communities must decide whether to participate in national programs, and if they participate, they must administer the programs within their jurisdictions.

Those candidates can fool some of the people, but they can't fool me.