Laboratories of democracy. That's what SCOTUS Justice Louis Brandeis called the state-centered model of federalism that Thomas Jefferson and his allies wove into the bedrock of American politics.
Though the arc of our country's history shows an undeniable bend towards the encroaching supremacy of the national government over the sovereignty of the states, some of the great policy initiatives of the last two centuries have originated through bold experimentation by state and local lawmakers.
But there's another way to understand that Jeffersonian "laboratories" observation. Not only can states reveal good policy that deserves to be duplicated, it can also show poor policy that deserves to be consigned to the ash bin of history.
Then there are times, the best times, when it can show both at the same time, side by side, with technicolor precision.
If we are wise and prudent people, we will learn the kind of leadership we want, and the kind of leaders we need.
For instance, I didn't believe it when I read the headline from KCRA news in California: "Buying a child for sex is a misdemeanor in California." But alas,
The penalty for the equivalent of child trafficking in "progressive," "forward-thinking," "compassionate" California is a maximum penalty of a year in jail, and a minimum of two days in jail, plus a $10,000 fine which may or may not be paid depending on sentencing details.
Plenty has been said in recent years about soft-on-crime policies in states led by Democrats, and with good reason. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that political movements that believe the execution of preborn children is morally and legally permissible would also enforce such loose penalties for child endangerment and exploitation. But this seems, even for liberals, unconscionable.
Thankfully, it's not that way everywhere. Other states with right-leaning leadership handle child predation, shall we say, "differently."
This is but one in a myriad of contemporary issues that demonstrate profound differences in ideological leadership.
As I scrolled Not the Bee's front page yesterday and saw the numerous "pro-Palestinian" protests occurring around the country - protests that amounted to malcontents impeding the lives, liberties, and livelihoods of others:
…I was very thankful to see that our site properly juxtaposed those limp-wristed, effete responses from law enforcement in progressive enclaves with the effective and efficient reaction of Florida's officials.
None of this means that Florida is the perfect state, or that there aren't dangers associated with running too far to the "tough on crime" approach. Barney Fife can always learn something from Andy Taylor.
But when Andy is giving child traffickers and molesters just a couple days in prison?
