States vs. Countries

I have always though comparisons of most other countries to the United States were misleading, simply because of our Federal system, where often the differences between the various States are so great as to make a National average misleading at best. This chart from the Economist (http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/01/comparing_us_states_countries) demonstrates that quite will, I think, at least for the economic comparisons that it makes. I suspect that comparisons for crime and especially education would also show a huge internal US range of results. It's would be helpful if, when comparisons are made between the US and a foreign contry, and the topic is one where the States have significant input (e.g., not defense spending) inlcuding sample States would be more realistic.