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Just read your comment at my blog. I think Jefferson or Adams wrote a book on the cultural differences existing between Mass and VA back then. Even though communications and transportation have advanced since then (which has had an integrative effect on the culture), I suspect that the sheer territory now involved (across the continent alone…but also going to HI and AK too) cannot but be diverse. I believe that federalism is a political structure that can accommodate such inherent heterogeneity as is in an empire-scale country. On your point about slow rational decision in amending the constitution, there is a book that calls such a thing “a constitutional moment.” In a representative democracy, such moments are not meant to be typical (hence representatives). I believe that such a moment is now called for with respect to our system of public governance so we can decide whether we want to go back to a federal system or get rid of the states (or make them districts of the US Government). Either way, I think a decision is better than having the system inadvertantly change as a byproduct of whatever issue is being legislated at the moment. To be sure, consolidation is an option. It would put pressure on representational principles at such a scale (i.e., Washington being far away from most of us), but there have been empires that have not been strong republics (e.g. USSR, Russia, and China). I suspect the State governments will continue along the trend of consolidation at their expense, with Washington gaining more and more power (which favors the anti-democratic forces, such as Wall St houses). At a certain point, I find myself wondering why I even make the arguments.
Anyway, I appreciate your comment on the history.