> This happens across the US political specturm, whether about their tax system, banking system, gun reform, electoral reform, and many other issues; it's a frequent refrain that the US is so different it can't learn from others.

Alternatively, it's a frequent refrain that the U.S. _should_ learn from others, which is e.g. why we should preserve our federal system, electoral system and rights.

I think it's a _good_ thing that the several states are separate sovereigns from the United States, and I think it's a good thing that the states are entirely reliant on the United States for their budgets (and in fact, those places where they are reliant, e.g. the highway budget, have led to anti-federal things like a uniform drinking age, something which is 100% not the business of the United States government).