Are the States Different?

[Geee]

American Spectator:

This is the third in a series of essays on our federal form of government. The first, "Sister States-Fellow Citizens," considered the history of the formation and admission of states equal to those of the Original Thirteen. The second, "Strengthening Federalism," suggested ways in which we could enhance structures and processes to strengthen our federal form of government. This third essay considers the differences between the states.

One test for the vitality of federalism is whether the states are free of mandates from the Federal Government. Another is whether there are substantial differences among the states.

We are not talking here about the differences that would exist even if we had a unitary government, that is, differences of geography or natural resources or ethnic make-up. Some have cold climates and others hot. Some are humid and some dry. Some are mountainous and some flat. Some are forested and some not. Some, even an interior state like Michigan, have long shorelines, and some are landlocked. Some are agricultural and some industrial. Some have coal, some have oil, some have fish, and some do not.

Of course, some have large populations and some small. Some have a large number of square miles (Alaska, Texas) and some have a small number (Rhode Island, Connecticut). Some have long borders with Mexico, some with Canada. One is close to Russia and one close to Cuba.