In! And transferring over from Festival:
Someone asked a question based on some of the “hot takes” going around about devolution.
Some have pushed the idea that Trump is secretly controlling the government right now, while Biden sits in the White House. Some people hear that and say “I can’t accept this devolution idea that Trump running things from Florida, and therefore he’s responsible for all of these Biden policies”…
Let me pause and say this about devolution. At its core the policy of devolution means to break agencies up and empower them to act autonomously, without central control. So, by definition, Trump can’t be giving them orders AT THIS TIME.
What he did was issue orders BEFORE leaving office, enabling many areas of government to act without Biden’s direction, and to do so as long as certain emergency conditions exist.
On top of that he left several National emergency directives in place specifically tied to conditions related to the border, COVID, and foreign election interference.
Have you wondered why Biden hasn’t canceled certain orders? In theory… he can’t.
Trump handed Biden several catch-22’s. As long as the COVID emergency exists then certain restrictions that limit Biden’s freedom are in place… but if Biden declares the emergency over… then how does he keep the economy locked down? Biden is screwed either way.
Multiply this times at least DOZENS of similar policy traps. As long as this or that emergency exists then the National Emergency policy put in place can’t be changed, but if the emergency ends… Biden Admin loses any narrative for power.
They planned these lockdowns to go very differently. Look at Australia.
Devolution, if truly activated, means there are areas of the government that don’t have to listen to Brandon… they’re at least partially on autopilot.
Also, there are degrees of devolution, to be activated under different circumstances. We do not know HOW MUCH of that is at play.
My only goals with this post are to:
1) is explain the decentralized concept
2) touch on Trump’s orders prior to leaving
3) touch on Biden’s policy handcuffs
Your description of the practical application of devolution on both the Biden administration and President Trump’s authority is terrific.
P.E.A.D.
I attempted a thread of that at GETTR. They kinda suck in this department.
https://gettr.com/post/prox8m8506
Bravo. You are your namesake.