[natecavanaugh]

I don’t know if I’d say that the concept of states rights is abandoned, though it does seem to be discussed less. But it shouldn’t be only central or only federal, but rather a constant friction over where ones power begins and the other ends. That friction we feel from it indicates that things are working. You wouldn’t feel that friction if any one side has all of the power. You’d hear grumbling, but there’d be no court cases about it, no decisions to be made, because the side with all of the power does the deciding.

Both systems, fully centralized and fully decentralized both are flawed, which is why we have the balance at all.

I think what’s happening is that the authoritarians in both sides of the political debate are heard more often and more loudly than before, so they of course want whatever will get them their goals. But the US is still the US, so I’m not sure what this article is even attempting to say? Less federal power? In certain areas, sure, but a EU of North America? That sounds terrible and isolating. It also seems like it would only feed the tribalism that seems to be everywhere.

I have to agree with your overall comment though. Travel, dispersed friends and families, etc guarantee we wouldn’t handle being split like the EU, and it’s crazy, IMHO, that the original author really sees so many differences between states that they outweigh the similarity of vision.