> The fed(eral government) is a powerful institution, but its
> power is contingent on two factors: the cohesion of the
> ruling elite, and cooperation of the states.
Quite true, which is why it's a little weird that the Federal government is basically letting the states hang themselves; what's to keep them from basically learning the lesson that when the going gets tough Washington couldn't give a damn about Sacramento, Albany and the rest.
/jordan