What About "States' Rights" and "Drill, Baby, Drill!!" Now?

As hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico, I am struck by the conversion of two issues: States' Rights and the Energy Crisis. States' Rights and the reach of the Federal Government. Right now, there isn't one person on either side of the aisle that doesn't wish the Federal Government didn't already have some kind of solution to stopping the BP oil spill. During the 2008 Presidential Election, there was an anthem coming out of conservative talking heads when addressing the looming energy crisis, Drill, Baby, Drill! Often some of these same people will argue against Federal Government intervention in State issues.

Ironically, we stand today at the crossroads of both of those conservative talking points. State's Rights vs. Federal Power and Off-Shore Drilling vs. Alternative Energy Sources. The well that is currently painting the Gulf black was drilled within the last three years and, as hearings just a few weeks ago that included all parties involved in the oversight of this well proved, done with more concern for the financial bottom line than for safety regulations. These same people said in 2008 that the answer to the U.S. energy crisis was for Oil companies to be able to drill anywhere they could find oil in the country, without constraint, and the drilling would be done safely and efficiently. I believe it would be difficult for anyone to argue at this point that this idea has born the fruit once promised.

Meanwhile, as the worst oil spill in this nation's history continues on for the 38th day, I don't hear anyone talking about States' Rights. Where are the people arguing that this is an issue that the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama and Florida can handle without "Big Brother" Federal Government dipping its nose where it doesn't belong? Where are the people (like the Tea Partiers) screaming about the burden of taxes and how they could be better used by the average citizen than by the Federal Government? It would be quite a sight to have private citizens from the Gulf States working together in the Gulf to cap the ruptured well spilling oil in their waters, but that sight would be an even more tragic one than what we see everyday at this moment.

All of this being said, I do believe that States' Rights has an important place in this country's Democratic Republic. Still, I also believe that before state's can truly claim to have the ability to handle most of their affairs, as some might claim, those same states must do more to bring more of its citizens into the governing process so that Citizens' Rights serve as the foundation for States' Rights and States' Rights serve as the foundation for Federal Rights.

When citizens are consistently and vigilantly involved in the governing processes of their communities and states, decisions about what to do about national issues like the energy crisis are so easily dominated by status quo entities such as the oil and coal (don't forget about the mine collapse a few weeks ago, leading to the death of several miners) companies. Constant citizen engagement makes sure that companies are doing everything possible to secure the safety of their workers and in the production of its goods.  Perhaps recent events should inspire a new idea, "Engage, Baby, Engage!"