Conservatives argue that, according to the Constitution, the federal government has very limited powers; most decisions are reserved for the states.  Grover Norquist summed up the ethos of the movement when he said, “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”

Let’s assume we do this; if we asphyxiate the federal government, then what happens next?  Fifty states make fifty different sets of laws about everything they possibly can.  Taxes, property rights, voter registration, gun laws, medical insurance, abortion, religion, you name it.  If you don’t like the laws where you are, then go somewhere else.  If you can.  Suddenly you ’re living in the American Balkans. Your personal and economic security are dependent variables; the place is thick with borders and your status changes as soon as you cross one, which naturally makes crossing them difficult.  So what do you do?  You flee to the EU. I hope they’re ready for us.