Module 5 - Week 5 || Blog Entry #8 - Subsidiarity & Devolution

 Larry Feirman State & Local Government-PSC2301-C

February 10, 2021 Module #5 - Week#5-Blog Entry #8

Part 1

From the PowerPoint handout it is clear that the principal of subsidiarity of communities, groups of people, that could be described as families, neighborhoods, collectives, and then from there larger national organizations and possibly international institutions.

The takeaway from this principal is this: that the higher-level entity should not infringe upon the life of a community at the lower level of that entity.  The larger institution is to support the smaller, local entities, especially when providing essential human needs and rights.  The foundation to all of this is to support the common good.

It is one thing to speak of and understand subsidiarity, yet another to put into action, that is a personal commitment to take action.  This action begins at the local level, within our town, county, state.  Local is always a sound place to begin our involvement.  The individual is the basic thread of social order, and we all a commitment to the common good.  It is simple to understand, perhaps a bit more challenging to initiate.

Part 2 

I will begin with a definition of devolution: 

“is the transfer of certain powers from one entity to another. It's an effort to reduce federal government powers by transferring some responsibilities to the state 

governments. Through devolution, the state’s gain responsibility for matters that were previously handled at the federal level.” 1

The U.S. has/is seeing a perfect example of devolution today.  The handling of the Corona Virus testing and vaccine distribution is a perfect example of devolution gone awry.

Former President Trump and most of the Republican Senate saw this issue as belonging to the state (Corona testing & vaccinations); clearly a wrong decision, which has ballooned in to a logistical nightmare.  With a global pandemic such as the one we are living in right now, is a perfect example of a responsibility owned and managed by the Federal government, with a clear and finite directive on how to handle a medical emergency not seen in over 100 years.  Whether it was done out of ignorance, vindictiveness, or just plain laziness, is a situation that is disastrous.

As discussed last evening on our zoom class, there are good circumstances to be had from devolution.  We discussed the use of marijuana, same sex marriage, pandemic caused closings of schools, restaurants, etc.  Those decisions belong at the state, county and city level, as those entities are in a better place to assess and act. 2

With reference to the 2010 Kenya Devolution article, devolution in this instance was indeed a sound and noteworthy act . The Highlights were:

3

• What makes this very unique and is listed as the first highlight:  Three (3) new female governors elected 2017 

• Local budgets were the recipient of funds

• Quality of local services increased

• Regional economic blocs arise to support local economic development & cooperation

  1 "Devolution: Definition & Examples." Study.com. June 24, 2014. https://study.com/academy/lesson/devolution-definition-examples.html

  2  Nathan, Richard P. Is Devolution Working - Federal & State Roles in Welfare. Brookings Institute, June 1, 2001.   

  3   Karani, Sheila. “Devolution in Kenya.” The 2010 Kenya Constitution - Devolution. U.S. Agency for International Development, March 6, 2019. https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1860/devolution-kenya#:~:text=The%202010%20Constitution%20of%20Kenya,executive%2C%20legislative%20and%20judicial%20branches.