No it doesnt, when speaking in general terms you tend to say that a country in general has a problem when one of its sections has a problem. Americans more than anyone do this, the only reason you are trying to make the claim that is it different is because it is the country you live in so you see it in sections. The rest of the world simply sees you as the U.S. Like i said before if a part of England had a water shortage problem you would would say that England is having a water shortage problem because you are speaking in general terms. You do not mean that there is a water shortage crisis across England or else that is what you would have said in the first place, or you would have at least called it a national crisis. Sorry if you feel everyone should view each state as separate, but you really arent special enough for the rest of the world to care to make you the exception to the rule of using general phrases.