Furthermore, the states are closer to the people, at least in the narrow sense that citizens have to travel fewer miles to get to their state capital than to Washington. However, those who do make the voyage find it is no pilgrimage. By practically any measure the typical state government is even less responsive to its citizens than Washington. The major reason is that state legislatures are much less accountable than Congress and many are even more corrupt. . . In many state legislatures written records of votes are not kept, making it possible for legislators to vote for special interests, while informing the citizenry they voted in the public interest. . .
Outright corruption is far from unknown in Washington but distressingly rampant in the states.
When the Maryland assembly allocates scholarships, many are given to children of politicians, their friends, and supporters. Arizonan legislators have been indicted for accepting bribes to support a gambling bill. When the FBI set up a sting in South Carolina, so many legislators showed up, they practically caused a traffic jam. . . If you hate bureaucrats, shifting from Washington to the states will hardly spell relief. USA Today, May 25, 1995.