I wonder if this would be Constitutional:

[pnwmom]

suppose at some point in the near or far future the right wing economic libertarians take over and dismantle as much of the safety net and government programs as possible.

Could a subset of the states -- a heavily BLUE subset -- form a compact among its own members to provide those services -- for themselves, only? In other words, to build a smaller version of the current Federal government that leaves out of the picture the Red areas that apparently want their residents to suffer? For example, this subset could agree to share a FEMA type organization; or could agree on a single payer health insurance program covering all the involved states.

Since the blue states tend to be wealthier, this means they could keep more of their tax dollars within their own borders.

[avebury]

1. Interesting idea. nt

Edit to add that it might become a first step to dismantling the US as the Blue States jettison the Red States.

[RevStPatrick]

2. I don't see why not...

States form partnerships for other things.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey comes to mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Authority_of_New_York_and_New_Jersey