Interesting.
I even agree with some sapects of it.
However, the problem is that the federal government is growing out of control and taking over the responsibilities of the states.
If Louisiana wants to use tax dollars to rebuild New Orleans, that's within their authority to do so. Maybe the federal government should help rebuild some bridges and roads, but a better solution would be to cut most of the federal gas tax, and let the states fix their own roads with gas tax revenues instead of the money all going into the federal government's hands where it gets spent on pork.
There are problems that the federal government needs to throw money at. Border security is an exellent example of this, yet it's getting sidelined while Bush throws money at issues that are outside the responsibility given to the federal government in the constitution.
The federal government needs to shrink significantly, and if the people want more government programs, they should see about getting them implemented at the state level.
People have had 60 years of this, so, while it is self-evident that the State gov'ts should have the brunt of the responsibility, the population-at-large has been told for decades that it is the federal gov'ts job. So, we play by their rules, we play the game--throw a bunch of money at the problem, and rebuild it in OUR image. THEY got to keep rebuilding in such a way that it kept people dependent on the Fed, and thus perpetuated the idea that the Fed is the only savior. Now, WE get to fix the problem and rebuild it in such a way that there will be no NEED for the Fed to be the savior, as it won't need fixing again! I look at this as a hand-up, not a hand-out. People can rebuild their lives, and will see the Conservative ideology shine thru--albeit by using a Liberal tool. The states will be more beholden to the Fed, and thus more apt to do what the Fed wants, by, say, knocking out the ridiculous trade-union rules that muddy and slow the process; then perhaps by imposing jobs and welfare restrictions that we wouldn't have otherwise gotten; or by relaxing environmental rules so we can actually build another refinery or expand business zones to accomodate better and higher paying jobs; or to rework HUD and Title XI appropriations...
This is the IN we needed. Use their tool against them--sure it costs now, but WE WIN in the long run, as it is OUR vision that will be instituted, the vision of self-reliance and ownership, not the vision of "Need help? Ask the gov't." It seems like the latter right now, but that is only when taken with a myopic view of the strategery.