Defining a vital national interest and how to try achieve a vital national interest are two different things

For example, educating the next generation is a vital national interest. Just how we try do it, public education, private education, vouchers, curriculums, is a local and state voting issue. For another example, providing for a common defense is a vital national interest. Just how thrifty and smart we are about doing it, and even the areas of concern, like foreign terrorists or Darfur, are a voting issue. For a last example, providing for basic police and fire protection, and basic health protection like clean water and waste water treatment is a vital national interest. Just how we fund it in competition with all the other local demands is a votable issue.

Yet seldom, if ever, do any candidates standing for election at all levels, local, state, and federal, even bother to discuss or offer for debate just what is a vital national interest in any of the communities we live in. It is as if we put the cart before the horse, and all too often the issues get confused as to prioritizing all the competing demands. And so many of the competing demands cross the lines of vital national interests expressed at the various levels, local, state, and federal. For example, and assuming we have to get out of the borrowing business to pay our public bills, do we spend money on an expanded water treatment plant in our local community, or use the same money to send our military into Darfur? Using the idea of being guided by vital national interests, the answer is obvious…spend the money on the expanded water treatment plant.

Especially confusing to most voters is federal grants to states and local governments. Just why this is a vital national interest has never been answered by politicians or even pundits. It’s history suggests it was born from other reasons. If the federal government collects enough money to pass a lot back to states and local governments, then it is collecting too much to redistribute in ideas that may not be in our vital national interests. If this money being spent as block grants is in our vital national interests, then let the states and local governments justify the taxes and the local voters vote on it.

One can go on and on in this simple idea of having vital national interests influencing how we tax and spend. One point is if times get hard, or bad, we have other courses of action than the mess we have today.

And never assume anything. That we live in a new world nation-state that still has the traditions and means to think of vital national interests as a guide is special in the world. Others are not so fortunate.