How did one aspect of federalism in this country become known as "picket-fence federalism"? 1. The federal programs that extended to the states excluded those states from the decision making process, as if the states were "fenced away" from the seat of power.
2. The federal government demanded that all programs that once were shared responsibilities of the states and the federal government now be strictly defined, as if fenced in.
3. There were so many programs that came from the three levels of government that the concept of federalism began to seem like fence posts standing in isolation from one another.
4. There was never really a concern over picket-fence federalism; it simply became a campaign slogan to evoke family values and the right to own property.