Power Devolution: Bigger Issue Than Maps And Names Of States

Map of the Australian states / Mapa dels estats australians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How much power will the states have? Will it be true federalism where states do most things, and the center only does things the states can not do? Will states be able to raise taxes? How much power will there be at the local level? Will villages and towns have real budgets where they are not at the mercy of state and central governments?

These power devolution issues are the true issues of federalism. But almost all the debate and hand wringing has been on the maps and names of possible states. You can have the map and the name you want, but unless there is true power devolution, federalism is going to be fake.

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