--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I happen to be one who believes very…" description: "\"I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state and local governments have their proper roles.\" — Don Nickles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg" --- # I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state… ![“I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state and local governments have their proper roles.” quote by Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg) > “I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state and local governments have their proper roles.” [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates balanced federalism where state and local governments have distinct, appropriate responsibilities. **In simple terms:** State and local roles matter. Key Takeaway Support appropriate government levels. Themes federalism government politics Mood thoughtful analytical Type political policy When to use this quote - legislative debates - policy making - civic education - local governance Key Concepts public policy intergovernmental relations Questions to Reflect On - How do we decide which issues belong to which level? - What are the risks of too much decentralization? A Different Perspective May overlook national coordination needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Local government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local-government/) [Local governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local-governments/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-scott/today-education-is-perhaps-the-most-important-function-of-state-and/) [Bobby Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-scott/) > [The federal, state, and local governments are involved in virtually every aspect of business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/the-federal-state-and-local-governments-are-involved-in-virtually/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [ The vicious cycle that is bringing down European states is not going to hit us \[the USA\], at least not for a while, at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-vicious-cycle-that-is-bringing-down-european-states-is-not-going/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [ \[J\]ust because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right... ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/j-ust-because-you-have-an-individual-right-does-not-mean-that-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There are 10,000 local governments in the state of New York. Ten thousand! Town, village, lighting district, water district, sewer district, a special district…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/there-are-10-000-local-governments-in-the-state-of-new-york-ten/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [ From the earliest colonial days \[in America\], local governments took responsibility for their poor. However, able-bodied men and women generally were not supported by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-west/from-the-earliest-colonial-days-in-america-local-governments-took/) Thomas G. West > [As a former mayor, I know that local governments must have control over land use decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-gallegly/as-a-former-mayor-i-know-that-local-governments-must-have-control/) [Elton Gallegly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-gallegly/) > [Only so far as a man believes strongly, mightily, can he act cheerfully, or do anything that is worth doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/only-so-far-as-a-man-believes-strongly-mightily-can-he-act-cheerfully/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [I can't stress enough how strongly I am against any state intervention in a sovereign nation's affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-martin/i-can-t-stress-enough-how-strongly-i-am-against-any-state/) [Abby Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-martin/) > [It's traditionally not federal policy to fund state and local salaries. It's done sometimes on a temporary basis or a grant basis. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/it-s-traditionally-not-federal-policy-to-fund-state-and-local/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [But the real growth I must say in terms of the public sector for the Labor Department is really at state and local levels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-herman/but-the-real-growth-i-must-say-in-terms-of-the-public-sector-for-the/) [Alexis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-herman/) > [It is imperative that state and local jurisdictions not scrimp on investing in law enforcement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/it-is-imperative-that-state-and-local-jurisdictions-not-scrimp-on/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [We need more leadership at every level: federal, state, and local.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-macy/we-need-more-leadership-at-every-level-federal-state-and-local/) [Beth Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-macy/) > [It actually turns out to be much harder to really understand government across state local and federal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/it-actually-turns-out-to-be-much-harder-to-really-understand/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) ## More by Don Nickles > [Jim mentioned I was an ALEC member, and that's correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/jim-mentioned-i-was-an-alec-member-and-that-s-correct/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I have always thought that Israel, as an independent and sovereign nation, had a right to defend itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-have-always-thought-that-israel-as-an-independent-and-sovereign/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I ALWAYS intended to return to the private sector,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-always-intended-to-return-to-the-private-sector/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [My last comment was, though, that Congress has cooked the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/my-last-comment-was-though-that-congress-has-cooked-the-books/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [If your basic premise about the fundamental purpose of our government is that it must provide for the common defense, then no other position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/if-your-basic-premise-about-the-fundamental-purpose-of-our-government/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [But the federal government, our collective government, has responsibilities that none of these other levels of government can fulfill; and chief among these is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/but-the-federal-government-our-collective-government-has/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [But if you look at WorldCom, which is the biggest failure to date, they grew dramatically, they were buying companies that were bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/but-if-you-look-at-worldcom-which-is-the-biggest-failure-to-date-they/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I still happen to think the United States is the greatest place in the world to invest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-still-happen-to-think-the-united-states-is-the-greatest-place-in/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [And the whole world, the whole world that believes in freedom, whether you're talking about personal freedom, economic freedom, religious freedom, they look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/and-the-whole-world-the-whole-world-that-believes-in-freedom-whether/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I think there's bipartisan support in the Senate to pass a good reform bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-think-there-s-bipartisan-support-in-the-senate-to-pass-a-good/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [ \[The Internal Revenue Code is\] about 10 times the size of the Bible and, unlike the Bible, contains no good news ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/the-internal-revenue-code-is-about-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-and/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I hope there will be some good news and some good profits, and people will realize we have a lot of outstanding executives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-hope-there-will-be-some-good-news-and-some-good-profits-and-people/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [It bothers me to read the comments of leaders of the Hamas and others who hate America that their goal is to have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/it-bothers-me-to-read-the-comments-of-leaders-of-the-hamas-and-others/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [ALEC is one great organization, I think, for growing future political leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/alec-is-one-great-organization-i-think-for-growing-future-political/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [I'm always a little cautious, there's a few amendments that are out there that I think could do some damage, so I've been more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-m-always-a-little-cautious-there-s-a-few-amendments-that-are-out/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) [Explore all 24 Don Nickles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state and local governments have their proper roles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Nickles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-strongly-that-state-and-local/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-strongly-that-state-and-local/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/don-nickles-24553_believe_i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-str_2032109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I happen to be one who believes very strongly that state and local governments have their proper roles.” — Don Nickles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Nickles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I happen to be one who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-strongly-that-state-and-local/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-happen-to-be-one-who-believes-very-strongly-that-state-and-local/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```