States, in the USA sense, are stupid. Perhaps this is why the American conservative tendency has always been such enthusiasts for the US state. They are small enough to be dominated by a small elite yet to large for actual self government. They perpetuate the regional differences which are the source of diversity and color but also help set up one's prejudices as admirable traits because they are 'our 'prejudices. It is not accident that too often 'States rights' are a front for retrograde policy and short sightedness. Natural resources become a personal cash machine for those who value exploitation now over careful stewardship. Minorities can be easily turned into scapegoats and demonized by a majority run state. If the minority was in their own city/state they would have more power while if they were one of many competing sectors of a larger polity they would also have less local scapegoat status. This perennial US problem has raised its ugly head again with the Supreme Court now deciding on the fate of subsidies for Obamacare. Although it is obvious the opponents of ACA are looking for anything it is only with an exaggerated sense of the importance of 'states' can their argument be even slightly plausible, To think of a province or territory in a country ( the classic 'state') as being exempt from a law because they pouted and did not participate would be absurd in any other circumstance. States can also be the 'laboratory for democracy' they are touted to be. Issues such as Global Warming and cannabis legalization are able to be dealt with in a state precisely because the people can be brought to a more progressive position than it would be possible to get nation wide. It is also true that the USA is way too large and disconnected from a national culture. The states are too small, the USA too large. Breaking the USA into five or six regional nations would be logical but is not in the realm of possibility. That said it is revealing to see how the concept of 'states rights' has been used for mostly regressive policies but can be used for progressive ones.