> just imagine for yourself the types of things that different states can make a crime, add a fine, then offer to give other citizens part or all of that fine if they turn in others
You mean if a red state (like Texas) potentially handing out bounties for snitching on abortions? Texas already passed that law in 2022[1]. We are already way down the slippery slope you alluded.
1. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1107741175/texas-abortion-bou...
Yeah, this is the worrying bit. US constitutional law only seems to restrict the government, so they can delegate it to private actors who can then do unconstitutional things. Something similar happened with the book-objecting laws.