I agree that, in other words, not mine, politics is war by other means. As to business: it's either big business or small business. You do need a working economy. Free trade and large federations of states, trade blocs, with "democracies" or otherwise, are good for big business, truly independent states better for small businesses. Wages will be higher and skills and knowledge less specialised/limited. If people have more buying power, the domestic economy grows and a state becomes more independent. Influencing decision-making becomes easier and is more effective, creating a demand for influence based on positives rather than negatives. Smaller businesses need the government to provide more services. There's more demand for a good education for well-rounded people with enough spare time (higher wages).

It's all about scale. Take Vermont.