>Modern liberalism is best understood as a movement of would-be believers in search of true faith.

I wrote an essay about that for a freshman english class back in 1965. The central idea was that the key missing element in modern life was a religion compatible with modern science and technology. I still don't see it, which is unfortunate as I think religion is an essential component of humanity.

I don't think state governments have any clout in today's power structure.
Too much Federal funding and few governors or state legislatures willing to lose that.