1. I agree with Kettl's claim that flexibility is a strength of federalism because the government has to be able to adapt to the different challenges they face. If you are not flexible enough to adapt to a variety of situations, you will not be able to grow as a nation. The key to a country's success is flexibility, which comes from being open to new ideas. The government can be open to all citizens' thoughts to serve the population better. As a result, citizens and the government have a stronger relationship to build trust.
2. I think it is fair for the federal government to place strict rules and restrictions on grants. This is because you need to have rules so the correct people are getting the money they deserve. Grants are sometimes free money, so if the government does not set rules, the people/states who would receive the money probably don't need it. I believe you cannot have a federal government without a state government. In my opinion, states can have their own laws, but they should also abide by some federal laws. For example, in North Carolina, there is a state tax so some people move to Florida with no state tax. There is no state tax in Florida because the state government implemented the law which was not set by the federal government.
3. If I could change anything about the constitutional design, I would give the states more power. The constitution shouldn't completely control our lives. Citizens should be able to make more decisions independently. State and federal governments must strike a balance between freedom and government policies. Considering today's society, there are some issues with the laws of the Constitution. The right to bear arms has been a contentious issue throughout the decades, and guns are a major concern. If you can manipulate it as a protective weapon and use it whenever you want, that is a huge concern. Balancing state and federal power is how nations thrive. As a nation and state, we would grow if both governments listened to their people and closed gaps to discrepancies.