Abolishing States: A Radical Proposal to Strengthen American Democracy

Strategic Insights -

Stephen Legomsky, a veteran legal scholar and professor emeritus at Washington University in St. Louis, has published a thought-provoking book titled "Reimagining the American Union." The book proposes a sweeping idea: abolishing state government altogether. In an interview with The Conversation, Legomsky elaborates on his plan, arguing that states are the root cause of many dangers facing American democracy. He advocates for moving most state functions to the local level, closer to the people, and reducing the number of levels of government from three to two. Legomsky's proposal is not without its challenges, but it has sparked an important discussion about the role of states in American democracy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Stephen Legomsky proposes abolishing state government in his book "Reimagining the American Union" and devolving most state functions to the local level.
  • He argues that states are the root cause of many dangers facing American democracy, including the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and voter suppression laws.
  • Legomsky suggests that licensing and driver's licenses could be handled by the federal government, rather than the states, to promote efficiency and consistency.
  • He proposes a non-partisan redistricting commission to oversee redistricting, rather than leaving it to state legislatures.
  • Legomsky's plan would eliminate state legislatures, but allow local governments to partner with each other and the national government to address problems that exceed their capabilities.
  • He argues that abolishing state government would be a long-term solution, rather than a short-term fix, and that it could help to strengthen American democracy.

Statistics:

  • The Electoral College has awarded the presidency to the candidate who lost the popular vote on five occasions.
  • A majority of the U.S. population is represented by only about 18% of the Senate.
  • Conservative Supreme Court justices have made 15 of the last 20 Supreme Court appointments, despite Democratic presidential nominees winning the national popular vote in a slight majority of elections.
  • The number of state licenses required for various professions is staggering, with practically every healthcare profession, barbers, engineers, lawyers, and architects requiring a state-issued license.

Sources:

  • Legomsky, S. (2022). Reimagining the American Union. [Book]
  • Legomsky, S. (2023, Jan 4). Interview with The Conversation [Article]
  • The Conversation. (2023, Jan 10). A radical proposal to abolish state government and strengthen American democracy [Article]