When the Constitution was drafted, you could live your entire life without ever dealing with the Federal government. Unless you invented something and wanted to patent it, or unless you filed for bankruptcy, or you wanted to do international travel and trade, you basically had nothing to do with the Feds.
There was no Federal income tax. There were no massive Federal regulatory scheme, controlling every aspect of your life and your business.
Don’t get me wrong. We are no longer an 18th century agrarian economy. Now, in the 21st century, market efficiency can be promoted by reasonable, uniform regulations.
The key word here is: “REASONABLE.”
An overbearing federal government is actually exacerbating our differences. Instead of allowing states to manage most of their affairs based on their unique needs, history, culture and values an oversized government attempts to control virtually every aspect of our lives.
All this has led to is complete dysfunction and increasing division in the country.
THAT is a fundamental structural problem that has to be addressed if we are to move forward as a viable republic.