Maybe I am stupid, but can someone explain to me the point of even having a President/Federal Gov. in the US if the states can do whatever they want?

[KostasKouvalis]

Maybe that's not the best way to word the question, but I will try to explain what I mean. So the president always gets blamed for things like high gas prices or inflation, but this is not the case in every state. Some states are better off then others. That's why people move. Some states have more jobs, less inflation and lower gas prices. Some states have legal marijuana, abortion and more LGBT rights, while some don't. There are state laws that conflict with federal laws. But the way I see it, is the federal government seems to have very little influence over what the States do. So I guess my question is, how does the Federal government actually impact the nation as a whole. I get things like war, foreign policy and trade, but if the President and federal policies really have that big of an impact as people claim, why are some states better off economically than others?

I was watching a video about a debate on how the electoral college isn't the will of the people, and that true will of the people would be determined by popular vote. The guy in support of the electoral college was arguing that it's necessary so that each state has a voice. Okay, so if that's the case, if the states have so much power, what's the point of even having a federal government?

He gave the example of how in France and Germany for instance, the entire country had the same COVID mandates, while in the US each state had their own, and he thought this was better. So you tell me who it is that has more power in the US?

[WindAtMyBack]

Start with a historical context. The original United States did not have a federal government at all. There was no president, no US Congress, no Supreme court. None of that existed. The states were the highest level of government. They were united as allies for the common good, similar to the EU except they were actually more independent than EU members.

It would not be 100% right to say there was NO central government at all. More like 95% right. There were provisions for representatives from each state to meet and discuss the common interest. When they met, each state had ONE vote. No state had any more say than any other. It was much like the modern United Nations where each member state has the same vote and representation in the general assembly.

However, early on after the US was formed there were some things that could not be addressed at the state level. They couldn't be addressed at the federal level either, because there was no federal government. There was simply no provisions in the original Articles to address certain things.

There were some pretty intense debates about forming a federation to replace the current confederation. The federalists won the debate and basically reformed the country. So the US Constitution replaced the original Articles of Confederation.

They not only formed the federal government, but reshaped the nature of the entire country. The states were no longer the highest level of government in all things. They relinquished SOME of their power and authority to the new federal government.

To the heart of your question, over the last couple hundred years the federal government has made a power grab. When the federation was formed, the states still had a LOT of autonomy. In most ways they were still the highest level of government. There are multiple layers of government: local, county, state, federal, etc. Each layer has a place in the overall system. But the state government is still the highest authority in most things.

Even though the federal government has made power grabs over the years, the states STILL are largely autonomous. In theory, the federal government ONLY has authority in ways explicitly authorized in the Constitution. Any power that is not explicitly given to the federal government belongs to the state, localities or the people.

So in many ways you are right. The states CAN do what they want to a large degree. They are still highly autonomous. Think about laws that affect you. Almost all laws in the US are state laws. There are also local laws (usually called ordinances). There are extremely few federal laws that affect us as individuals.

As for the electoral college, it is a compromise between the original country where each state had one vote (like the UN), and a nationwide popular vote. It gives each state a minimal voice and minimum number of votes - thus retaining some of the original idea. But it no longer gives each state an equal vote. It is weighted by population.

It is more representative than a purely nationwide popular vote. Because it ensures that nobody is left out. It gives all states and lifestyles some say rather than mob rule where a handful of very localized cities dictate to the other 95% of the country.

California is a member of the union. So is Wyoming. And they BOTH have a say in how the country is run. Why would Wyoming even be a member of the union if they had no say?

[KostasKouvalis]

I like how the first systems worked but they would never work today. "Why would Wyoming even be a member of the union if they had no say?" I never said that, but if they're aa minority, well tough luck.

"It gives all states and lifestyles some say rather than mob rule where a handful of very localized cities dictate to the other 95% of the country."

But that's literally what's happening. For instance LGBT people make up less than 3% of the population, but pretty much dictate to the majority how things should be. In California where I live, the people voted THREE times against gay marriage, but Jerry Brown legalized it.

I remember when there was once a time when the MAJORITY had all the power and the minority had to shut up and do what they're told. Now you have the reserve where you have a minority dictating to the majority how they should live.

[WindAtMyBack]

As the saying goes, "The squeaky Wheel gets the grease."
This has always been true.

I think what's important is that everyone has a say, not just the majority. What's done with that is another story. A lot of politicians want to kiss the ass of everyone. But that can never work, because kissing the ass of one group will almost always mean opposing a different group.

It's the job of the politicians to listen to all sides, then make decisions on what's best overall, not just what's best for one particular group.

I'm perfectly fine with states like Wyoming having a minimal say. Does the Los Angeles metro area really need 26 Congressional districts to represent the city? Or can LA get by with 25 districts so the entire state of Wyoming can have one?

[seeyounexttuesday]

It's all right here

www.archives.gov/.../constitution-transcript

You're correct, the federal government should be involved with war, foreign policy, trade... and that's about it.

[Anonymous]

Our entire system is a fraud just how they screw every country over and portray themselves as the “heroes” , they do the same to its own people. They make us believe we are a “democracy” and we have a “voice” and live to tell us how other countries don’t have this “privilege”, but then brainwash us that we need all these stupid laws and rules that contradict everything they told us about we have a voice and our vote “counts” while it’s someone else who decides who we vote for not us. They screw us ofer just like they do to all of you guys. They start wars where they see a benefit to them and then go “help” as so heroic and portray others as the evils who “started” the war and we just went to “help”

the people are the top of our system are fuckign corrupt pieces of shit! And the reason this continues is because they brainwash us all that that is how it’s supposed to be.

So the younger generations that go into politics, do in with what we’ve been taught and brainwashed all our lives and so the cycle continues “Russia is evil” “we are the heroes” and we are a “democracy” 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡😁😁😁😁😁😔

if we don’t teach our young how they system actually works, the en we will never see a change.

[KostasKouvalis]

We're actually a republic, but everyone seems to think we're a democracy so you may be right

Pretty much. I was honestly shocked that everyone in the comments agreed with the guy and not the girl.

[Anonymous]

California is the richest state, it's a socialist nightmare where people are fleeing.

[jahaims]

You are trying to apply logic to an illogical situation. Just understand money is power and politicians want power. If the government had your best interest at heart and wasn't just a money collecting machine then it would make more sense.

[Ariesman81]

To protect national borders and settle disputes amongst states. That's really all the Federal Government is needed for. But they've done an exceptional job of creating a need for themselves in other areas.

[BarryLiverstone]

The fda is just one example of why the Federal government is needed. Otherwise when food passed between the states it would need to be inspected at every border.

[KostasKouvalis]

California already does that though.

[BarryLiverstone]

Yes Cali is a state like Arizona and Oregon. So if a Walmart truck goes through cali (from Arizona to Oregon); Cali isn’t going to prevent the truck from going to Oregon. The feds are needed in many cases.

[KostasKouvalis]

But if you're saying with the FDA there's no need to inspect food traveling between states, then why does California inspect food coming into California.
Yes, California does inspect food going out of the state, only food coming IN

[BarryLiverstone]

Because the state inspects the food for other reasons. They trust the FDA that the food isn’t poisoned and isn’t harmful as a product.

I’ll give you another example. The fed department of education allows students to move from state to state and still be in the same grade. So if a 4th grader moves from Rhode Island to South Dakota ; it’s not like in SD the 4th grader must be put into the 1st grade because the state laws are more strict in SD for education.

Bottom line is the fed gov is needed to allow the states to stay united and people to freely move between them as just one reason the fed is needed

[KostasKouvalis]

Well yeah. That would be stupid and weird to have a 4th grader in 1st grade.

[BarryLiverstone]

Ty. That could be the case if all the states were really independent and not United and had federal regulations.

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't think it would though, because people move to other countries and continue their schooling where it left off.

[BarryLiverstone]

Well you asked your question because you wanted to learn more right? I assume you didn’t want to debate. The USA needs a federal gov. You can keep doing research as to why

[saraupstairs]

To protect the country.