Under a clear principle that the states are merely component parts of the federal government of the United States of America, it should not be argued that the latter ultimately has the vested right and authority to set standards and provide funding on matters such as homeland security and education.
It is my opinion that the federal government should provide the base of standards that the states only need to improve and strengthen.
However, this should not lead to a situation where such two national structures depend solely on the federal government hence they should not be totally taken away from the states.
It is also empirical that the federal government provides the funding but again subject to limitation. This is because the states should also have their share in financially supporting any program aimed at upholding homeland security and education.
These premises are definitely under a consideration that the setting of standards and funding concerning homeland security and education system are under the primary functions of the federal government but which the states need to support and enhance. In fact, national security is the President’s primary obligation hence it should be under the federal government (“ Homeland Security,” 2009).
Obviously also under federal government’s role is education hence its inclusion in the stimulus plan of the Obama administration (Dillon, 2009).
States claim they are capable of managing their respective security and education issues but it will be to their advantage if they comply with federal standards. This is because the latter has better resources and is more organized. Natural disasters and terror attacks made some states appear helpless and obviously have to count on the federal government for help to ensure security and provide relief and assistance.
While education is traditionally under the states, institutions previously suffered fiscal shortfalls and it is federal action which got them out of trouble. Clearly, the states could not ask for total independence from federal interevention because it is very unlikely that they can survive individually or on their own.
References
Dillon, S. (2009, January 27). Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2009/01/28/education/28educ. html
The White House. (2009). Homeland Security. In The Agenda. Retrieved March 2, 2009, from http://www. whitehouse. gov/agenda/homeland_security/
