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Originally Posted by Tiny
Hedonist, We're both strong believers in Federalism. You may be an even stronger believer than I am.
I'd put pandemic response in the same category as national defense. The federal government, the CDC, should be primarily responsible for coordinating that. Yes, treatment in hospitals, testing and tracing are largely done at the state and local and local level. But given the specialized knowledge you need to identify and respond to the threat, the federal government needs to play a strong role.
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The states heard what Obama said. Wouldn't it have been far easier for each state to prepare for this knowing that each states need is different? And if this was the federal governments ultimate responsibility to have enough PPE, test kits and the authority "over" states to regulate what they do, why would states resist the federal governments authority over total control of these items?
We have heard about a bidding war between the states and federal government over PPE. Can you imagine the out cry ( I think we heard it as a matter of fact ) if the federal government forbid any state from acquiring any PPE without the permission of the federal government because the states ceded this authority to the federal government?
And we just witnessed what happened when the federal government IE Trump even suggested that he had the authority to regulate a states economy by him deciding when and if they could open. Should that be the kind of strong role you want a President to have?
The federal government absolutely has a major role to play but it is not, can not be an absolute role. Being the sole authority to purchase and prepare for a pandemic just isn't feasible. FEMA isn't well equipped enough to handle disasters in a few states at a time. It is not feasible for them to be responsible for all 50 states at once and all 50 states don't want what that would entail........ until they do which isn't fair.
I think a 50 state solution on some matters, many matters is better than a federal government solution and I think going forward, a state solution to a virus pandemic as far as making decisions about patient care will be the way we view this. No one state frightened of persons traveling to their state can make the decision to shut down flights into the country like a President can and for good reason much like a state can not usurp the federal governments right to regulate immigration ( although they try like hell ), at least most of us think that is what the constitution says
The states have already made it very clear that they want the authority to run their states economy and they should run their own health care needs reflected in the fact that health care insurance has been frowned upon crossing state lines to this day and federal health care control, is still not ready for prime time. Until we decide that the federal government will control all matters related to health, the states must accept the responsibility of making sure their state has enough equipment and beds and then and only then can the federal government be called to assist those who have done a less than responsible job.
