A congresswoman thinking locally
So many members of Congress seem reflexively dull and ideologically hyper-charged these days but I found this interview with Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez quite fascinating. She represents Washington’s 3rd district in Congress.
She spoke with Adam Smith at Front Porch Republic.
The discussion kicks off with talking about Wendell Berry, a figure we’ve covered in American Habits.
Her reflections related to federalism stand out: if 435 members of Congress brought their intimate local experience to Washington, she argues, federal policy would become “more useful” by being refracted through real communities.
It’s a rare and refreshing take on how federal policy makers could potentially strengthen local self-government. And frankly, it’s encouraging to see a genuine thinker at work in Washington. These days, I find genuine thinkers more engaging than ideological robots, regardless of whether I always agree with them.
I’d encourage readers to check the entire interview out, particularly anybody following conversations around localism, federalism, and the importance of thinking critically in government.
— Ray Nothstine
— The Federalism Beat