All Politics Is Local

“All politics is local”
Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill

Those of us who worry (constantly) about the direction our federal government is taking often feel helpless to do anything about it. I know I do. Our federal representatives and senators might as well be on Mars considering how little their actions reflect our concerns and our communications with them. Those of us who do write and call them don’t know whether to laugh or cry for all the good it seems to do. Every year the federal government gets bigger and bigger while we demand they reduce its size. The debt and deficits grow year in year out while members of both major political parties stand on their crumbling soap boxes and tell us how they're doing everything they can to cut spending.

“What then must we do?” - Leo Tolstoy

I believe it’s time to get involved in local and especially state government. Our state senators and representatives are closer to us. It takes far less time, resources and votes to swing a state election one way or another. States do still have the power to control the federal government. For instance, the states can amend the United States Constitution without any federal government involvement whatsoever. They could pass a balanced budget amendment the federal government would be bound to obey. The power for the states to amend the Constitution is in the Constitution! The states could convene a constitutional convention and restructure, reform or abolish the federal government if they chose to.

Article 5 of the United States Constitution in part:

“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution...”

Regaining control of our states may be the only way we ever regain control of the federal government.