Blog Assignment #3

1. Is a strong national government necessary or should the state governments have an equal share of power?  Why?
A) It is important for there to be equilibrium in the amount of power between the states and government because if one or the other has too much power, it will at some point take over the other, like we saw in the America born around the Articles of Confederation, which caused the states to overpower the Congress. There are things that need to be stronger in some aspects for one side versus the other, I think, but only with the realization that it as a whole adds up to a equal checks-and-balance of political power.

2. National power increased during the Great Depression but then power began to shift back to the states (somewhat) during the Reagan administration?  Why did that happen and is that shift appropriate?
A) This happened because as it reached the age of Reagan's administration, the economic situation in the US was improving and the need for reliance on the Federal government, economically was naturally decreasing as well. Reagan was attempting to ween the American public off the federal aid so that they wouldn't abuse the system and that the states could handle the smaller financial and political issues on their own.

3. Education stirs much discussion relating to the issue of federalism.  Should the national government regulate education or is it a matter best left to state and local governments?  Why?
A) It should be a bit of both because there sadly is too many states that by their own power are failing. I came from California which was one of the worst in that it spends some of the most tax revenue on education and yet produces the same or lower than average test scores. So, it's true that the Federal Government has to be involved somewhat. However, it doesn't need to be controlled solely by the Federal government because that results in more debt and changes needed to other parts of the national budget that could be used elsewhere.

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