Oh, yeah. We can trust state and local politicians and their boss constituents. [Little irony there.]
So the alternatives are to do nothing, or simply do more of the same... just keep electing conservatives. You do know what the definition of insanity is, don't you? The rude reality of the situation is that Washington, D.C. has more of an influence on our newly elected representatives than they have on Washington, D.C., plain and simple. That's the system, their system.
The Founders gave us Article V to use in the event of federal overreach, when Congress either fails or refuses to act in the best interests of the nation. Can there be a serious argument that that time has not come?
In the words of Ayn Rand: "The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it."