Magnetic effects are local, since photons are sent between the objects; ie. distant objects don't interact with each other, they interact with photons locally,

Magnetic effects are local, since photons are sent between the objects; ie. distant objects don't interact with each other, they interact with photons locally, which then "carry" the force to the other object, where they again act locally. IANAP, but that is probably not a correct picture. Photons carry energy and therefore if you imagine electrically or magnetically charged objects sending out a constant stream of photons in order to mediate electric or magnetic forces you quickly get a problem with conservation of energy. In fact, magnetism is a realtivistic effect; it's how the electrostatic force behaves when things are moving. This also seems at least not accurate to me - relativity turns electric forces into magnetic forces and vice versa when you change reference frames, but they are not the same thing, they are two different aspects.