American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

CONCLUSION| 83

that are intractable at the local or state level. For example, pollution spills across
state lines, and the deteriorating public infrastructure, like the highway system,
crosses state boundaries. Solving such problems individually would vastly out-
strip the resources of state and local governments.^41
The second problem, unequal civil rights protection, is evident in various federal-
ism cases that have passed before the Supreme Court. These clearly show that states
are not uniformly willing to protect the civil liberties and civil rights of their citi-
zens. Without national laws, there will continue to be large diff erences in the levels
of protection against discrimination based on age, disability, and sexual orientation.
Finally, competitive federalism can create a “race to the bottom” as states
attempt to lure businesses by keeping taxes and social spending low. This can place
an unfair burden on states that take a more generous position toward the poor.
Thus, overall, there is no clear “winner” in determining the appropriate balance
of national and state power in our nation today. The advantages and disadvantages
of our federal system insure that federalism will always remain a central source of
confl ict in the policy-making process as the various levels of government fi ght it out.

Conclusion

Alexis de Tocqueville, a French observer of American politics in the early nine-
teenth century, noted the tendency of democratic governments to centralize. This
is especially true during wartime or times of crisis, as in the aftermath of the Sep-
tember 11 attacks, but it is also true during normal political times.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, State Annual Personal Income, August 17, 2012, http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable
.cfm?reg10=99/step=1 (accessed 8/17/12).

PER CAPITA INCOME BY STATE, 2010

FIGURE » 3.3B

MSIDWVKYSCUTARNMALINAZMIGATNNCMTOKOHORMEMONVLATXIAWIFLKSSDNEUSDEVTPAHIRIILCOCAWAMNNDNHAKVAWYNYMDNJMACTDC

Per Capita Income

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$80,000

$70,000