Dismantling Federalism is a Shortcut with a Very Steep Price

Authors

Richard J. Peltz-Steele, University of Massachusetts - DartmouthFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

Federalism is not an anachronism. The “United States” has – have – survived because of well drawn balance between sovereign states and the federal government. This system of “vertical separation of powers” is one of our essential checks and balances, right along with the three branches of government (“horizontal separation of powers”) that kids learn about in grade school. Imbalance in this formula can spell catastrophe; think Civil War or European financial collapse.

Comments

Originally published by Forbes in 2012.

Recommended Citation

Richard J. Peltz-Steele, Dismantling Federalism is a Shortcut with a Very Steep Price, Forbes, July 8, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/07/08/dismantling-federalism-is-a-shortcut-with-a-very-steep-price/#2e388c5cccd1 [https://perma.cc/EBV8-UEG9].