This November, the most significant elections will not be for the 435 House and 34 Senate seats, but for state legislatures, governorships, and, in some states, Supreme Courts.
There are significant reasons why state polls should take precedence in November.
Crime and Education
The rate of crime, particularly violent crime, has risen dramatically over the past few years.
In the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers said the purpose of government is to “protect” the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the desire for happiness.
Consequently, combating crimes against individuals and property represents the government’s primary objective.
Those pushing #DeSantisDestroysFlorida have not once said that about the governors of NY and CA, 2 states with skyrocketing crime, rampant homelessness, high taxes and fleeing businesses.
— 🇺🇸 Lowkey Rey 2.0 🇺🇸 (@AtlRey) August 5, 2022
In the federal system, the state government is mainly responsible for ensuring this security.
In Federalist No. 45, James Madison said the powers entrusted to the different states will extend to all matters affecting the lives, liberty, and property of the people in the regular course of events.
Criminals endanger our lives through violence, our freedom through fear, and our possessions through stealing. We need to hold our state leaders accountable for handling this situation and expect our rights to be protected in the future.
In no other form of governance is universal education more vital than in our republic. Those in positions of authority must possess both the wisdom of the good and the will to seek it, both of which are earned through education.
We, the people, are the leaders in America. Consequently, we, the people, must have access to the education necessary, not only to lead, but to lead effectively.
Regrettably, our educational institutions fail to impart the knowledge of our nation’s history and the guiding ideas necessary for the development of moral, self-governing individuals.
Instead, far too many schools in the United States demand much too little rigor while embracing progressive philosophy.
Our Constitution assigns education to the states, which are the most significant participants in education, despite growing federal intrusion.
We need to think about how our states could get better by changing their curriculums and giving parents more school choices so they can select the best ones for their kids.
Abortion Legality
The Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey this summer. While in effect, these rulings substantially restricted the ability of states to control abortion.
Because of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, states now have a lot of freedom to make abortion laws however they want.
HUGE thank you to the amazing volunteers and the folks on the ground who did the work to ensure abortion rights were protected in Kansas. The impact for the whole region–where so many states have banned abortion–cannot be overstated.
— Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) August 3, 2022
In returning this judgment to the states, the Supreme Court launched one of the most significant power transfers to the states in the 20th century.
This modification is appropriate. This crucial subject should be decided by the states, as they did for the first almost two centuries of our nation’s existence.
We may now debate the contrasting claims of pro-life and pro-choice activists regarding life and liberty in a substantive manner.
For the first time in hundreds of years, the views of state lawmakers, governors, and judges on abortion will have real-world effects on how we protect unborn life.
This relocation to the states will facilitate our return to policy making. Too much of our mainstream politics consists primarily of empty bluster.
Congress members often put forward bills that look more like fancy press releases than honest attempts to make laws.
In order to rule effectively for the benefit of the people, we require governments that really do their jobs. A renewed emphasis on the states may be the key to achieving this mission nationwide and more effectively.
This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.
