1. I think that flexibility is both a strength and weakness of modern American Federalism. A strength is that when society undergoes a new problem, American Federalist structure allows for creative problem solving on all levels of government. Federalism allows for states to have flexibility under national control, and the national government has the flexibility to decide whether or not to make a ruling. Flexibility is a weakness because when issues do come up, there can sometimes be a conflict as to whether the solution falls to the national or state governments. The flexibility can create situations where the national government oversteps boundaries, as well as situations in which state governments can have autonomy.
2. I think in most situations block grants and matching grants are constitutional and fair because the state has the option to take the money or not. Some argue that federal grants for issues of health care is overstepping boundaries and that federal government should not be allowed to fund health care. I do not believe it is fair for the government to attach stipulations on a grant that are not related to the purpose of the grant, or that will require more funding. In the case of the education funding, a state may not accept the grant for education because they do not have enough funds to provide ADA accommodations that the grant requires. This would put the state at an educational disadvantage because they are not receiving the grant to better school systems. The elastic clause specifically denotes passing of laws that are necessary and proper, and these grants are a way that the federal government will be able to impose their power outside of constitutional stipulations.
3. I think that by changing the supremacy clause and elastic clause to apply only to times of national emergency (natural disaster, pandemics, war) this would allow for more state autonomy and reduce the risk of excess centralized power. I think that they way the government is organized, in theory, works really well, but I also think that the legislative branch has grown to have a lot of power, and I think that more checks need to be put in place. I also think that polarization from political parties has tarnished Federalism especially in modern America, but that likely has to do with increased media coverage. Overall, I think that states should be given more power and autonomy and this would be done by taking away some of the power from the federal government.