Left-Wing Federalism

An environmentalist friend of mind recently referenced an article discussing the work of Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, two PR analysts who argue that environmentalism is suffering from the United States's recent rightward shift, a trend that does not appear to be abating anytime soon. She posted this article on a listserv, and the following is my response to that same listserv:

"Here are my two cents. First of all, it's helpful to avoid thinking in terms of 'Americans' or the 'United States.' While Shellenberger and Nordhaus's statistical snapshot of current American attitudes is certainly helpful, we need to avoid identifying ourselves too closely with any national group. One may feel dismayed that so many of his/her fellow citizens hold such views; on the other hand, should one even identify as a 'citizen' or as an 'American' — categories that put us on thin ice, theologically?

"Practically, such statistical snapshots remind us of the problems with large nation-states. Such entities attempt to collect individuals and groups with disparate values and interests into a large, homogenized pool. In any substantial or 'real' sense, two people from different nation-states who share similar values and interests have a lot more in common with each other than two members of the same nation-state with widely divergent views. To claim that an American (or Russian, Korean, etc.) has a 'special bond' with another American simply due to nationality or citizenship is, at best, silly (and, at worst, dangerous).

"This brings us to the value of federalism, a concept often derided by the Left and misrepresented (or, in the current context, ignored) by the Right. Recognizing that one über government cannot be all things to all people, federalism encourages the development of local systems of law, regulation, etc. The systems compete, and those that provide individuals and groups what they want in terms of social/political organization win. This doesn't mean that one system would defeat all others; different systems that cater to different groups can co-exist.

"Thus, what should an American leftist (actually, any American) demand in the current political context? Decentralization, true federalism, and the ability to exit any political system that he/she does not like. Forget voting. Political freedom stems from the right to exit."