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What if there were no states?

Season 1 Episode 3

If we made “America From Scratch” today, would we have states?

States: they're a fact of American life we take largely for granted. But why do we need them at all? Some experts believe that chopping up our country in a different way would make a lot more sense. So, if we started over today, would we keep the somewhat wacky geography of our states intact, or would we move to perhaps a more logical system that throws state lines out the window?

AIR DATE 5/21/18

Videos

  • Do We Elect Narcissistic Leaders?
    S1 E16
    Do We Elect Narcissistic Leaders?
  • Should Shelter Be a Right?
    S1 E15
    Should Shelter Be a Right?
  • What if Protesting Was Illegal?
    S1 E14
    What if Protesting Was Illegal?
  • Should We Pay People to Move to Mars?
    S1 E13
    Should We Pay People to Move to Mars?
  • Should the USA Build a Wall on BOTH of its Borders?
    S1 E12
    Should the USA Build a Wall on BOTH of its Borders?
  • Should we police our police?
    S1 E11
    Should we police our police?
  • Should we have more than 2 major political parties?
    S1 E10
    Should we have more than 2 major political parties?
  • Should we make voting mandatory?
    S1 E9
    Should we make voting mandatory?
  • Should we have mandatory military service?
    S1 E8
    Should we have mandatory military service?
  • Should we elect our Supreme Court Justices?
    S1 E7
    Should we elect our Supreme Court Justices?
  • Should it be illegal for Facebook to sell your data?
    S1 E6
    Should it be illegal for Facebook to sell your data?
  • Should the U.S. require half of its government to be female?
    S1 E5
    Should the U.S. require half of its government to be female?
  • Should we rewrite our constitution?
    S1 E4
    Should we rewrite our constitution?
  • What if there were no states?
    S1 E3
    Now Playing
    What if there were no states?
  • Should we have a president?
    S1 E2
    Should we have a president?
  • Should 12-Year-Olds be Allowed to Vote?
    S1 E1
    Should 12-Year-Olds be Allowed to Vote?
    • About America From Scratch

    What if we made “America From Scratch” today rather than 250 years ago? Would 12-year-olds be allowed to vote? What if there were no states? Host Toussaint Morrison joins the PBS Digital Studios family to ask these big questions and celebrate the incredible opportunities represented by our ongoing American experiment. Produced by Rewire as part of the Twin Cities PBS “In It Together” initiative.

    Broadcast Dates
    This show is not scheduled to air soon.
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