When considering the proper authority to construct the Tenn-Tom waterway, a thorough examination of the principal of subsidiarity is required. The principle of subsidiarity essentially requires that the government be “closer to the people”, specifically to the citizens for which that particular branch is accountable (Drew & Grant, 2017, p. 522). The rationale behind the principle is simple, decentralization to the lowest level unless there is compelling evidence that a higher branch of government would serve the people better. As Mikesell (2014) explains, subsidiarity provides for the most efficiency and quality in providing services as subnational systems have a greater understanding of their population and its needs. When applying this …show more content…
The Tenn-Tom waterway stretches from just north of the Tennessee state line and travels through Mississippi and Alabama before dumping into the Gulf of Mexico, combing rivers, lakes, canals, and dams in all three states, thereby no one subnational government could claim ownership of the waterway nor could one single state provide the most efficient services (Green, 1985). Furthermore, the Tenn-Tom has afforded each state with jobs, industry, and tax revenue, again contributing to each locality and each reaping benefits (Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway). Second, while these three states enjoy the majority of the benefits, an even wider range of states – 14 states throughout the southeast – have access to the Tenn-Tom as a shorter route to the Gulf of Mexico than the long-standing Mississippi River route (Green, 1985). Meaning, that if the principal of subsidiarity were applied and only one state had jurisdiction over the Tenn-Tom project, then all these other states would have access to the services and benefits without contributing financially. Finally, the cost of the Tenn-Tom construction, almost 2 billion dollars with an annual maintenance cost of around 22 million, is excessive and unjust for one subnational government to bear – especially given the wide range of access to the waterway and the number of potential users …show more content…
Mikesell (2014) defines the correspondence principle as the provision of goods and/or services and the individuals who received these goods/services should be determined by the governing jurisdiction, extending this principle to jurisdictions that geographically intersect and could be organized along a functional line. Under the correspondence principle, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, - all with overlapping jurisdiction of the Tenn-Tom – could have joined together through a special referenda to oversee the construction, each equally enjoying the benefits and sharing the costs. However, far too many other individuals and industries in many other states have access to the Tenn-Tom without sharing the costs, thus violating the principle of correspondence. Additionally, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway website cites Kentucky, other regional areas, and all of the United States as receiving direct and indirect benefits and economic impacts from the construction of the