The latest edition of Max BordersIdeas Matter update includes an item focusing on Thomas Jefferson and the concept of “ward republics.”

What if counties were as powerful as states? And what if the power of the federal government were pushed down to the states? This is essentially what Founding Father Thomas Jefferson proposed. And if you have any illusions about how “radical” this founder was, consider that Jefferson believed these ‘ward republics’ should have the most power. Why in the world would Jefferson advocate something so crazy? Boy if we’d only taken his advice.

Here are the benefits of this sort of radical decentralization:

  • It’s much easier to vote with your feet;
  • You get near unanimity within your community;
  • The national government does very little;
  • Subsidiary power is highly localized
  • Leaders are more accountable because they are closer and easier to watch;
  • Checks and balances occur both in divided powers and the threat of defection from a ward;
  • Resources remain highly localized;
  • Communities — whatever they look like — are more likely to spring up based on the culture and common dreams of the people in the ward;
  • You get radical experimentation. …

Borders also highlights this video clip:


Thomas Jefferson's Ward Republics by FORAtv