State Autonomy is the best way to settle the political turmoil
As many people in blue states are aware, by and large, they have been subsidizing the red states for some time now. New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, California and others have been contributing far more tax dollars to subsidize red welfare states like Alabama, New Mexico, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Yet the welfare states are the ones complaining the most about federal welfare. This is essentially like a grown adult receiving allowance from his parents complaining about other people not working for a living.
There are many problems in America right now but, the one that can’t seem to go away is one that universally divides and causes turmoil: welfare and the role of the government in the economy. The left want more money spent on essential basic federal goods such as healthcare, clean energy, transportation and even welfare, while the right want people to provide for themselves and stop depending on the government. I would argue that the economics the left provides about the role of government in the economy works better than the ideology the right pushes. The only way for the right to realize they are either right or wrong for sure though, is by cutting welfare to welfare states claiming to be all about less government intervention. Both coasts need to stop allowing their tax dollars to fund their main opposition. It’s only when states are completely on their own they will come around to fact based economic evidence. Just like the grown adult living on his parent’s allowance, the only way for him to learn is for his parents is to cut his allowance off.
If all states in America that subsidize other states did this, within a few years the central states would either have to recognize they were wrong about governmental involvement, or they would realize they were right. It’s the only way to end this argument in America once and for all, and a way to settle one of the greatest political divides. It seems that, after WWII, European countries no longer have these ideological debates to such an extent as they recognize the need to share more and sharing is the best way forward for the general population.
How do we do separate tax dollars from states to go to other states? Well we can repeal the 16th amendment which is a long shot or we can see what’s going on in California. There is a secession movement in California, some people want full independence but more just want autonomy. There is a growing movement including myself to somehow give California full control of its tax dollars by either a congressional bill that returns tax dollars back to California or a change in their status into being a territory, giving them much more autonomy over income tax and laws, among other things.
If more states supported a bill ensuring federal spending was returned to that state in the same amount as every other state, this could end that discussion. But assuming that this may not pass in Congress, more states should consider a more extreme alternative of possibly reverting back to territories. If all blue states did this, they would have enough votes in the House and Senate to pass many different states becoming territories all at once. As a territory they would have control of their income tax as Puerto Rico does now. After a few years as a territory, allowing other states to be self-sufficient, we can see where we are at and if the debate is settled or not. If it’s not, states may remain as territories or some may want full independence. I see the political climate in the states as untenable and only getting worse. The individual states need to start thinking about their own futures and the best way to save America is to settle this debate once and for all.
