States Should Be Test Tubes

"If you hate this country so much, why don't you just move to Canada?!?!"
"Because I want to make this country better!!!"

Ever catch yourself saying one of these two lines? If so, you probably should have ended the conversation a few minutes ago. But this classic dead-end argument brings up one of the greatest benefits of state rights.

States should be test tubes. If some state has a terrible idea, they can try it and fail, without the rest of the Union having to suffer the consequences. If a state has a great idea, and it proves itself to be effective, the rest of us will willingly adopt it. We won't need a federal mandate. We'll want the benefits.

In the latest issue of Reason, Tim Cavanaugh references a post-census study by Americans for Tax Reform, and looks for correlations between states slated to gain seats in the next reapportionment. In short, what states are growing and attracting movers? "They have lower taxes, less government spending, and, in most cases, right-to-work laws that weaken unions."

States that make smart decisions reap the rewards. You don't have to leave the country to escape bad government. Sometimes, you just have to cross state lines.

Eric Olsen,
Regular Columnist, THL
Articles | Author's Page | Critical Thinking Blog

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