As with any charter of government more than two centuries old, the U.S. Constitution has weathered serious storms. Many of its provisions are as vibrant as the day they were born, while others have badly faded. But one feature of our great freedom charter is perhaps more vibrant than ever before: federalism. Long given up for dead, it turns out that federalism is experiencing quite a revival—not only thanks to conservatives, but also to liberals who have rediscovered the importance of federalism in the era of Trump.
Our country's bitter political divisions have paralyzed national government, rendering it incapable of addressing our nation's most urgent problems. Fortunately, our framers envisioned that most of the decisions that affect us most intimately as individuals and communities would be made not at the national but at the state and local levels; and despite a steady accretion of power in the national government, that still remains the case today.
Read Full Article »