Reply to Why do people blame local electeds for Covid impact?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have a Federalist system of government. Most of the power in regulating day to day lives of people is reserved to the states.

This structure makes a lot of sense since local situations differ and therefore local politicians are able to make better decisions than remote ones. This decentralization is what allowed Florida to be better managed than New York in terms of Covid response. At an even finer level, rural counties do not have a need for the most strict rules as adopted by urban counties and the best people to make that decision is the local county leadership.

If you don't like it, you can push for a Constitution amendment.

Good luck with that.[/quote]

Local officials might have more power in day to day decisions -- and I absolutely blame them for opening up indoor seating at restaurants and bars while keeping schools closed, and Bowser/DCPS did a terrible job getting devices and hotspots to everyone who needed them. But only the federal government is allowed to deficit spend, so they have much more financial flexibility. [b]The feds failed us when they didn't provide more resources for local government to use[/b] and by not directly supporting people who lost jobs.[/quote]

What did local officials ask for that the Fed did not give them as far as COVID is concerned?

DC, MD, VA have not been short a single ventilator.

What was the request that was filed with the Fed that went unfulfilled?[/quote]

Money to improve school ventilation systems so that schools could open more safely.

Money to individuals so that restaurants can afford to stay closed.

Money to local food banks so that families facing food insecurity can eat.[/quote]

Ahhh...so money.

Why should the Fed spend money when at a local level DC has not spent a penny from its $1.5B rainy day fund. Nor has DC asked the Fed for money to improve school ventilators or your other suggestions. Are you recommending that Bets DeVos tell Mayor Bowser how to spend her budget in DCPS and what type of HVAC's to upgrade to?

That just is not how the system works.

Locals have to identify the issues, identify gaps and if there is a shortfall, request Fed support. But the Fed cannot swing in and tell the Mayor that these restaurants must close and these must stay open.[/quote]

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