R: Federalism Is A Failed Experiment

Proponents of federalism argue that it is a vital mechanism in defense of rights and democracy, ensures government responsiveness, and fosters policy innovation. Opponents instead look to a difficult history in which "states' rights" were a "giant, immovable obstacle used to shield the subordination of racial minorities" (Robertson) and to a contemporary politics in which conflicting state-level policies on everything from education to the environment conspire against a cohesive, national interest.