Module 2: Decentralization

This week, we are asked to think about how decentralization affects parties and the challenge it poses:

Decentralization helps to shape parties and make them more attune to the public's needs and wants. Decentralization in politics is the idea that more power is given to politicians at the local level so as to give them a better opportunity to serve their constituents. The goal here is to give elected representatives more power in decision-making power so they can better serve. If we didn't rely on decentralization our system would be a mess. Just think of it, if we let one person run the country, how would they be able to serve everyone. Every area has special needs and it would be impossible for one person at the national level to service all those various needs. For instance, how would someone from the elite east coast be able to relate to someone in the plane and simple Midwest? The answer is, not well. That is why we rely on our "own" elected representatives who live amongst us, who understand our problems and our needs, to represent us. There is no way someone who can't relate to the issues that are important to us to be able to govern effectively. Perhaps that is why many presidents who have come from very elite and wealthy backgrounds have a hard time reaching out to the average American. How can they possibly understand us if they've never "lived in our shoes?" I think the decentralization is an important part of our political system. America is an extremely diverse nation so we need extremely diverse people to represent us. I think the fact that Obama has become president is an important stepping stone in our country because it shows you that old white men aren't the only ones who can be president. You don't have to be rich, or come from a fancy background to be president. I think it's what this country needs - someone who understands us and our needs (whether Obama is that person is up for consideration, but that is another matter all together...). I think it's important to elect diverse people to governing positions because they will bring something "new" to the table, whether it be ideas, experiences, etc. Because of the election of Obama, I think the US is in store for alot of change in the future. There's no doubt we are going to have a woman president in the next couple decades, and who knows what's next after that? Although decentralization most of the times means the growth in the size of government, which in turn means more tax dollars, etc. I think it's best to let each state make it's own rules, and each county, town, city, etc. make it's own rules as well. There is no one better to govern that someone who grew up amongst us and has an understanding of what we need.