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At the national level, and in Red States, we've grown progressively more free

When it comes to water rights and property rights, I'd say you're wishfully thinking.

The red states are clearly affected by the federal government abuses of property rights and the land grabs that have ocurred because of the ESA and other environmental laws and regulations. You can have a taking you know, with out actually booting the owner off his land. All you have to do is put so many restrictions on him he can't use his land for economic purposes or otherwise, and saddle him with a huge tax liabilty and the deed is done.

President Reagan fixed the *federal* problem of passing land restrictions without compensating property owners.

Don't lump Blue States in with our national or Red State situations. California is a different beast than civilized America.

The red states are clearly affected by the federal government abuses of property rights and the land grabs that have occurred because of the ESA and other environmental laws and regulations.

Another technique is to use Federal grants to enforce their agenda.

"The dominant role of the federal government in road finance has enabled it to pass laws in areas outside of the powers enumerated in the federal Constitution. By threatening to withhold highway funds, the federal government has been able to force state legislatures to pass a variety of laws. Examples include increasing the legal drinking age to 21, for a number of years reducing the maximum speed limit to 55 miles per hour, passing Megan's Law legislation, lowering the legal intoxication level to 0.08/1000, and other laws. " -- Wikipedia

They are getting more intrusive. Now the shape and size of city street signs are mandated.