state governments don't do these things because We already know that even within the context of "things that states can do", there is a tremendous amount of di

state governments don't do these things because We already know that even within the context of "things that states can do", there is a tremendous amount of diversity amongst the states. This would continue even if states felt that they needed to fill some voids left by a defanged Federal Government. Federalism is a good thing. We see New York panicking and considering policies (like the "tax free zones/hiatus") they never would have in a vacuum because of revenue/brain drain to states like Texas that are more business-friendly. In practice, state and local governments are far more corrupt than the federal government They're corrupt in their own ways, but they don't have access to the levels of corruption of the Federal Government. State representatives can't legally inside trade on US stock exchanges. They can't even give themselves that kind of power. State representatives can't distribute national ethanol subsidies. State representatives can't bail out their buddies on Wall Street. The list of what States just don't have the power to do is really long.