The Death of Federalism

Our country is unique to most others on the modern map for many reasons.  One of the foundational differences is the federalist system.  States are not mere bureaucratic distinctions to compartmentalize administrative processes.  They have their own governments and (at least originally) come together in support of a national government.  This was done for many reasons.  No state would have been able to defend itself against colonial powers and separate isolationist policies would economically devastate most of the states.    We originally tried a confederation, but found it to be too weak of a union to be effective.  Federalism was our next try, developed during intense negotiations in the Constitutional Convention where our founders were somehow able to come to agreements and compromises.  And this system has lasted for 223 years.  Or so we think.

The brevity of the Constitution is amazing.  Compare it to any state constitution or one of another country.  This fact has allowed the malleability of interpretation for the evolution of society.  This is good and necessary, to an extent.  But the rules it originally set forth for the federal government have rusted and faded with the weather of time.  States are no longer represented in Washington D.C., the people are.  State governments have no course of action to challenge the Feds save the court system.  Originally Senators and electors of the Electoral College were the realm of the state. 

Currently, 48 states are facing budget shortfalls and have to create balanced budgets for the next year or two.  The new Health Care Law from the federal government mandates that everyone who earns at or below 150% of the poverty line be eligible for Medicaid.  While some states are already at this level, others are not.  The new costs will add $2 billion to California’s already ravished budget while medium sized states like Arkansas and Louisiana will face an additional $1 billion.  Besides fudging federal dollars, DC has simply thrown costs on the states who can not carry debts.

Will governors respond, or simply beg for more federal dollars to subsist and suck on the teat of government dependence?