I can appreciate that some states are better than others, in a similar manner to being able to appreciate that some EU countries are better than others. I've visited the USA and so I've seen first hand the good and the bad.
It doesn't change the fact that globally, you are represented by your federal government and not your local state ones. As an Australian I might expect a foreigner to know our Prime Minister but never a state premier.
From overseas we just see a lot of the insane shit. Politically, the whole world is interested your federal elections because that is what has a chance to affect us. I don't care who the governor of a state is really because they aren't going to be able to declare some insane war or fuck over or save entire countries.
Even when we see state x legalizes y or outlaws z it just blurs together from out here. Much easier to see your own state doing good things when you're inside it.
And yeah, USA doesn't get enough credit for craft beer!
Often huge barriers to employment are owning a phone with a consistent number, and appearance/hygiene. For someone with nothing these two things can massively help.