...to be ordered around by people that live 1000's of kilometers away...
Yuyutsu,
But, you don't mind enjoying the benefits courtesy of people from 1000's of km away ?

Dear Individual,

The only "courtesy" I benefit from people living 1000's of km away, is the common defense of our continent and its people against external tyrants. However, this can also be achieved with defense pacts like NATO, so no need for a central administration, laws and "identity".

One advantage of smaller states, is that they compete with each other over having less oppressive laws, so if laws are too oppressive in one state, people just vote with their feet and move to another.

At present, for example, some idiot in Canberra decided for all of us, 1000s of kilometers away, that we cannot start having the COVID vaccines until March (nor even import them or travel overseas to be vaccinated). Had states been independent and one state denied the vaccines to its population, then people could just travel and buy the vaccine in another state!

Yuyutsu,
You know what they mean by wanting the cake AND eating it as well ?

individual,

I think the correct saying goes:

Want to eat your cake and have it too.

Yuyutsu,
we should update that to 'wanting unrestricted freedom of movement & demand Govt keep us safe as well" !

Dear Individual,

You are unlikely to understand my answer, but I will respond anyway for the benefit of other readers on this thread:

«we should update that to 'wanting unrestricted freedom of movement & demand Govt keep us safe as well" !»

If we refer to our bodies, then not only are they unsafe, but we can safely say that they will break down and decompose, if not within decades then certainly within a century. Nobody can change that and keep them safe - including government.
And if we refer to ourselves who dwell in these bodies, then we are already safe since nothing whatsoever can destroy us - including government.

Since safety can neither be given nor taken away, why expect government to provide that is not within their ability to provide (and even pay with our freedom for this impossible "service")? Anyone else who pretended to sell us "safety" would immediately be recognised as a fraudster by those who have eyes to see, so what makes government any different?