National government vs. State government

[Honorable Citizens]

What do you think is better: a strong national government or a strong state government?

[Conserative Morality]

There's not much of a difference beyond size. So National.

[Oliver the Mediocre]

Depends on the State (meaning Country) in question. In Canada, powers are split between National and Provincial Governments based largely on the immediacy of the issue. Defence is handled by the National Government, but Health Care and Social Welfare is handled by the Provincial Government. It's less about strength than it is about putting things in the hands of the Government that fits best.

Now, what's interesting to me, if you look at Canada and the United States, is their respective arrangement for residual powers. In Canada, any powers not directly spelled out under the Constitution devolve on the National government, where in the United States, any powers not directly spelled out under the Constitution devolve on the State governments. As a student of Poli-Sci, I find the differences in culture and politics which derive from this difference fascinating.

[Meryuma]

Decentralized panarchist governance, in a non-hierarchical society with a diversity of economic systems.

[Call to power]

erm it doesn't work like that at all?

I will go with a strong national government as I imagine the results of a weak national government would be...less than desirable

[Threlizdun]

No government

[Greater Tezdrian]

National.

[A Ant]

Strong national, since the UK does not have 'states'.

[Serrland]

In b4 John C Calhoun


Seriously, though, it really depends. Also, it depends on whether we're talking about a State (country, in this sense) with a Federated structure or not.

[Oliver the Mediocre]

Seriously, though, it really depends. Also, it depends on whether we're talking about a State (country, in this sense) with a Federated structure or not.

Haha yeah, I just ran with the premise in this case. This is certainly an important point. A very small State, like, say, Luxembourg, probably doesn't even need to consider having a federal system.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

In b4 John C Calhoun


Seriously, though, it really depends. Also, it depends on whether we're talking about a State (country, in this sense) with a Federated structure or not.

I suppose we have to be talking about federations, otherwise this dicussion doesn't make a whole lot of sense. States rights for me.

[Dumb Ideologies]

The bigger the government the more snuggly the government.

[Darmen]

National

[Saxoprussia]

Strong National government.

Simply put, state/province governments that are too strong make the entire nation essentially balkanized, without actually being balkanized.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

Strong National government.

Simply put, state/province governments that are too strong make the entire nation essentially balkanized, without actually being balkanized.

Well, this is true. The US got a lesson in that. Twice.

[Ifreann]

I don't see any use in inventing states so we can give them a government.

[Revolutopia]

National

In that in my opinion, State's rights has basically become a code word for individuals wanting to limit or restrict an other groups rights, but know they cannot get such action passed on the federal scale.

For example, the whole idea of slavery before the Civil War or segergation during the Civil Rights movements.

Only, now instead of focusing on African-Americans State Righters want to restrict a woman's right to abortion or homosexual's right to equal marriage.

Big Government is Big Government no matter if it is federal or state thus the whole small governmet arguement for state's rights is bull in my opinion.

[Caecili]

National government. State governments lead to huge discrepancies between states on important issues. Just look at the difference in education standards between states and you'll see what I mean. Not a good thing.

[Holmaniah]

i would say state, because people vary from region to region, and each regions population may not agree with another, so state.

[Meryuma]

If there has to be one at all, make it a municipal or even neighborhood government.

[Holmaniah]

If there has to be one at all, make it a municipal or even neighborhood government.

i agree

[Conserative Morality]

If there has to be one at all, make it a municipal or even neighborhood government.

What if I invade?

[Greed and Death]

Strong state governments, can more easily move to avoid bad state policy (vote with ones feet) and closer to the people. Not to mention a limited federal government will find colonialism and wars harder to go about.

[Call to power]

Simply put, state/province governments that are too strong make the entire nation essentially balkanized, without actually being balkanized.

dunno I can't say Britain has much trouble with the separate national assemblies, we all hated each other then and we all hate each other now

I don't see any use in inventing states so we can give them a government.

provides jobs.

If there has to be one at all, make it a municipal or even neighborhood government.

What if I invade?

like a white man would ever be seen in the hood

[Siorafrica]

What do you think is better: a strong national government or a strong state government?

National. Countries are only mutually agreed upon divisions of the planet anyway, let's not further unnecessarily divide it.