Exactly. I'm grateful I live in the US, where there are 50 somewhat discreet "democracy labs." Forgive loose application of "democracy." Still, us Americans have some advantages and opportunities for how to navigate the decline.
Since the American Civil War, US legal system has operated under the "Federal Supremacy" clause. In the event of a conflict between State level laws and Federal law, the Federal law supersedes the State law. This has been a well-tested and validated precept for 150+ years now.
But there are some recent developments that are "chinks in the armor" of Federal Supremacy. 10 or 15 years ago, various states legalized marijuana (increasing number all the time). Weed is still a controlled substance at the Federal level. The Feds just look away, while State sanctioned and administered facilities are effectively committing Organized Crime (technically, RICO-level stuff) in violation of Federal Law.
Likewise, we have the increasing fad of "Sanctuary" cities, counties, states. These authorities are mandating that none of their employees (cops and judicial system folks, mostly) cooperate or share information regarding someone's immigration status with the Feds. These places have become "safe spaces" for illegals (and there might be as many as 30M of them in the US). As the Federal Government has largely abandoned immigration enforcement, we have this other "chink in the armor."
Recently, us gun nuts have started declaring "Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties" and such. It wasn't a challenge to Federal Supremacy, but it is an internal fracturing, at the State vs. County level, of some State laws. Some counties told their State legislatures - back off.
I'm not trying to derail this to a legalized marijuana, 2A, immigration debate. My purpose is to highlight the corrosion of Federal Supremacy that has already occurred, and how that may present an advantage to us in the future.
So given the "decline" of the US, the great resettlement of people moving to more favorable Red/Blue state environs (and it is happening in both directions), these cracks in the system will get wider and deeper.
It is important to note that this movement wasn't started by a bunch of Southern "Johnny Rebels," claiming the "South's Gonna Rise Again." It was largely started by the left. They opened these cracks. They encouraged the Feds to look the other way. They told the Feds to pound sand and stop going to County Courthouses to look for illegals with Federal Warrants for violent crimes. It is the left that has flaunted the established order of it.
Well, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Perhaps State legislatures will pass "Vaxxine Sanctuary" laws. Perhaps they can ban State employees from asking about vaxx status. Perhaps they can prohibit State employees from sharing info or in-putting data re: Vaxxine counts into US Gov't databases. The Feds will retaliate with all kinds of financial punishments/incentives: "comply with vaxx mandate or lose state level medicaid funds, etc." But there are enough people to make this a political dog fight.
Edit - Also, imagine these Vaxx Sanctuary States becoming "vaxx-refugee zones" for like-minded people around the world to come in. maybe it could shift the immigration dynamic such that immigration isn't as solid of a win for democrats.
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