Why are State's Rights so important?

[noahneonfoxx]

I like grapes

[Dewdaahman]

some wear their checks and balances on their waist, only needed when push comes to shove..

[dudeonthasopha]

whenever there is a democrat in office republicans do this Confederacy renaissance states rights bullshit.

[jackdonkeymagazine]

States rights were the reason Conservatives could have slavery, Jim Crow, ban interracial marriage, ban abortion, ban gay marriage or even civil unions for that matter.

[shirmanrebel]

@jackdonkeymagazine Those things would have been banned anyway.

[wndy1975]

Fuck this point of view in the face. The state is killing everything that is good, and the so called founding fathers are murderous traitors to humanity, that actually stole this country via genocide. REMEMBER? It wasn't that long ago actually. Fucking twits.

[redshark611]

What the !?!?!?!

[MarkDouglasC]

States rights -- conservatives hate it when a state wants gay marraige for example.

No one gives a shit about "states rights" you lunatic. From Jefferson, to today, people use the term states rights to fool stupid people.

Steven Douglas was famous for his bullshit "states rights" crap -- it was just to avoid pissing off scum sucking slave rapers in the South. So Douglas came upu with bullshit about "states rights"

Nonense idiot. He could give a shit.

[MarkDouglasC]

Jefferson was all over the map on EVERYTHING. States rights my ass. He -- and everyone -- are all for "states rights' when it suits them. But then all against states rights when it doesn't.

No one ever walked across the street for "states rights" == an excuse, not a reason.

[JohnR22926]

Anybody see some hypocrisy from the Left on the States Rights issue?

They're much opposed to letting each State decide the abortion issue for themselves. However, the Left is ALL in favor of letting each State (or even city...like D.C.) ban handguns. See the inconsistency here?

[awalters06]

@JohnR22926 - you know the biggest problems with the STATES having unlimited rights are we've been shown that the states cannot be trusted to represents all it's people fairly and the whole states rights fight now is just about racial separation.

[JohnR22926]

@awalters06 Nobody is proposing "unlimited" rights for the States; all that's being proposed is a shift of some of the power from the Fed back to the States...like it says in the constitution. I also disagree that the State Rights debate is about racial separation...that's YOU'RE interpretation and it's a paranoid interpretation. Besides, one of the powers the Fed should retain is overseeing issues of constitutionality, and strict enforcement of the Civil Rights Act would fall into this category

[wilfredsnipple]

The U.S.A. was created as a REPUBLIC not a democracy but operating on democratic principles. Each state with it's sovereign rights, independent nations representing it's citizens closely. This was to insure that the central government(represented by the minority) could not dictate to the states(the majority "the people") individual rights and liberties.

Benjamin Franklin when asked what type of government they had created?"A republic if they can keep it."

America has failed.

[Vote3rdParty]

Are you just copying and pasting this in any video that has "states rihghts" in it? Boringggg... think up something original to say.

[AngloYankee]

What are you smoking? 'States' have never been independent nations. They weren't indepedent nations with the articles of confederation or with the constitution.

[redshark611]

State is another word for a nation (State of Israel) Texes joind the union as the Republic of Texes, and a confederation means that a band of nations working togather, i will adment that mosts states don't act like nations any more but if Califoua wonts abotion, gay marige, leagele drugs, or a dictetorship fine but don't you DARE make Iowa do that just becuse you wont it in your contruy dosent mean my contruy should do it.

[1337wafflezz]

@wilfredsnipple We have failed at maintaining our Repubilc. Our government is a representative dictatorship. Ignorant assholes elect traitors and scum to represent us, and in turn they betray us and betray our founding ideals.

[MarkDouglasC]

No man ever gave a rat's ass about "states rights". States rights was just a term these ass wholes used to justify slavery, segregation, raping your slaves, lynching, etc. People have rights -- states are a construct of your mind. When states have more rights that people -- something is wrong. States rights was just an excuse, never a reason.

[wilfredsnipple]

Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers held states rights VERY important. States rights defined our government as being a republic. Of course if you studied history a little more you would know this.

[MarkDouglasC]

Jefferson was the champion of rights of MAN, not states you idiot. The states thing was bullshit power struggles by selfish bastards.

Right are for HUMANS -- a state is a construct. Men have the unalienable right to Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Do you see states rights in there mo fo? States rights was just bullshit term you bastards made up to enslave, to sell children, to lynch. Thats not states rights you idiot, that's states WRONGS.

[wilfredsnipple]

States represent the people as a whole. And as far as being a mo fo- Yes, I did your mom. She was a lame ass idiot also.

[sunstorm007]

If you understood the History of the Founding era you would understand that Hamilton and the Federalists would have adamantly opposed state succession. Everybody thinks that the Founders had this monolithic opinion about the proper role of federal government when in fact nothing could be further from the truth.

Everyone who touts "States Rights" always conveniently leave out Founders like Hamilton for founders like Jefferson, Incredible.

[wilfredsnipple]

Thomas Jefferson, the architect of the U.S.Constitution, invented the notion of states rights. This can be seen in the 10th amendment. To understand that each state was sovereign when our federal gov't was created. This was to remain by design to safeguard from tyranny. They knew the difference between a democracy and republic.

[sunstorm007]

Thomas Jefferson did not invent the notion of State's Rights.

Patrick Henry opposed the ratification because he realized once it was ratified it would undermine Absolute sovereignty to the States. This was the reason why he wanted the Preamble to say "We the States" instead of "We the People" which was later used by Justice Marshall, John Adams' Supreme Court appointee to solidify National Supremacy in protecting Individual Rights from the Tyranny of the States.

[sunstorm007]

Issue is not whether States have rights or sovereignty. The Issue is what is the scope of State Sovereignty? Whatever Thomas Jefferson's (Who was not even involved at the Constitutional Convention) involvement in the Bill of Rights, do not give his construction of the Constitution more weight.

Jefferson is always the pin up of every State's Rights Advocate but they completely leave out opinions of the other founder's Opinions who matter just as much and mostly more than Jefferson's

[wilfredsnipple]

You obviously did not read the Kentucky and Virginia Resolve or the Federalist Papers.

[sunstorm007]

If you you Knew enough about the Historical Context of the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, you would know that it had no binding .

In Fact Alexander Hamilton considered it so repugnant that he wanted to march National Troops into Virginia as a show of National Supremecy in reaction to it. Hamilton by the way, was one of the three Authors who Wrote the Federalist Papers.

Even Patrick Henry, former Anti-Federalist dennounced the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.

[sunstorm007]

"They knew the difference between a democracy and republic. "

There is nothing about a Republican form of Government that is inherently a Federal System. Britian is a Republic and it is a Unitary System. So was Ancient Rome.

This was to remain by design to safeguard from tyranny

Well you have half the Founders going one way and half the other way. You can't just pick Jefferson and Madison and throw out John Marshall, John Adams Geroge Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin

[wilfredsnipple]

Benjamin Franklin when asked what type of government they had formed:- "A Republic if they can keep it."

This nation was founded as a Republic: "and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands"

[sunstorm007]

That doesn't mean he was talking about the States. You seem to be confused over the term Republic. A Republic has nothing to do with a Federal or Confederate System of distributing powers. Like I said Britain is not a Federal System but it is a Republic of a sorts.

Benjamin Franklin was talking about Eternal Vigilance by the people .

[Vote3rdParty]

Jefferson declared that he was an American first, and a Virginian second. Jefferson was indeed a republican in favor of states rights. After being elected, he did a complete 180. It's pretty sad. The person who "invented" states rights didn't even believe in it anymore in it his later days.

[nissykayo]

A: Man I'm all about state's rights

B: You know I agree with you, especially in the context of the mid-19th century America in which we live. We definitely cannot afford to sacrifice our state sovereignty in the shadow of this ever increasing oppressive federal system

A: Yeah, like, in my state the feds have the nerve to tell us we can't torture, rape, and murder black people anymore...can you believe that shit?

B: um...well that actually seems sorta reasonable

A: You're a fascist!

[wilfredsnipple]

nissykayo

Slavery existed long before the notion of states rights, therefore states rights could not possibly be used as an excuse for slavery. Slavery is an inherent evil in ALL of mankind. If you are a black man your ancestors are guilty of slavery. I doubt they gave states rights as any excuse for their behavior.

[MarkDouglasC]

Oh, so murder existed before 1500, so therefore, you can never use an excuse for murder. Great point fido head. States rights was the ONLY excuse for keeping slavery. Religion was the ONLY excuse to start it -- states rights the only excuse to keep it.

[wilfredsnipple]

Many will say that Reagan was a racist. I guess he was as much of a racist as Lincoln was a abolitionist.

[StatesRightsDemocrat]

Well said

[wilfredsnipple]

It is obvious that we are currently living under Federal tyranny. The Federal gov't constantly passes laws that you have no say in. States have absolutely no authority now as their representatives act autonomously. You may vote for your representative but you have no say in what he does or most any policies implicated.

[MarkDouglasC]

This guy is right - man is an evil bastard and will use any excuse to screw the other guy. All men would be tryrants -- if they could, including Mr Kennedy, and me, and you. States rights was used as an excuse for all kinds of crap.

[wilfredsnipple]

What is legal is property of the states.

[MarkDouglasC]

Yes, slavery existed before Dec of Ind. And religion was the excuse for it when it started. It was the ONLY excuse. Show me ANY other excuse. Then states rights was the ONLY excuse to keep it. Show me another excuse.

[puertoricantruepoet2]

I think 9th amendment to the constitition justifies civil rights for minorities as well the 14th amendment. "The enumeration of the constitution of certain rights shall not be construte to deny or disparge others retained by the people." The 9th amendment again makes it clear that you do not use the rights you gain to deny other such right gained by other people including minorities.

[MarkDouglasC]

Well decency and breathing justify civil rights. THe Delcaration of Independence, anything, do unto others, even unto the least of these -- LOTS of things justified civil rights. Hell yes. Im talking about what was used to DENY rights, to ENSLAVE, RAPE, EXPLOIT. States rights was the ONLY excuse ever given to keep slavery. Keep that in mind.

[MarkDouglasC]

States rights was the big excuse for raping your slave, selling your own children into slavery. States rights has been a fig leaf for the biggest crap you can think of. The only excuse for having slavery -- was religion. The only excuse for keeping it was states rights. Interesting

[MarkDouglasC]

Ron Paul is a well meaning kook. Think of Robert E Lee, without his horse. This guy would shoot Lincoln before the play. Ron Paul is still upset the south cant rape the slaves, and sell their own children from the rapes into slavery. STATES RIGHTS DAMMMMIT!!

We can rape slaves -- cause the constution doesnt say we cant, huh ma. Ma? Ma? Ma, aint dat whut dez constinution sezs may?

[blkeydfu8er]

this didn't help me with my AP gov't homework, but great vid:)

[UglyBonnie]

Americans are losing our country because we don't really understand that the purpose of the Constitution was to create a federal government with well-defined, limited duties and rights. The States reserved ultimate sovereignty (Tenth Amendment). The federal government becomes a tyrant when it can get away with defining the limits of its own power. The only two potential candidates who appear to understand this are Walter D. Kennedy and Ron Paul.

[MarkDouglasC]

Bonnie -- I understand the purpose of people who wrote constitition. Most were bouncing on their slaves at night - rape. Im not real impressed, forgive me. I think we the people have the RIGHT to demand civil rights, labor laws, pollution laws, safety laws. And fuch heads like Ron Paul and others dont think we do. THese morons think it has to be in the CONSTITUTION.Learn some history, ugly. Learn how states rights was the ONLY excuse for slavery.

[UglyBonnie]

Mr. DouglasC:

Your words above and other postings of yours reveal that you are apparently another victim of government education. Slavery in the Western/Christian world pre-existed the D. of Independence, which is the first document to establish the States and their sovereign rights. So what was the "excuse" for slavery for ~150 years in the Colonies before 1776 (not to mention the slavery practiced in the rest of the Western world during that era)?

[MarkDouglasC]

Ugly- no kidding slavery existed before D of I, but that has NOTHING to do with the facts. Religion was the ONLY excuse to have slavery, states rights was the ONLY excuse to keep it. Religion was the excuse 150 years before too. ANd states rights was the ONLY excuse to keep it -- since in those 300 years of slavery, surely we got Jesus for our slaves by then.

[UglyBonnie]

continuing

You don't understand the purpose of the people who wrote "constitition." Read the Federalist Papers. Purpose was to form a General (federal) Government to help the newly independent, loosely confederated States to better get along with each other and provide for common defence. The Framers sought to create a more perfect Union; but they already, by their own experience as subjects of an Empire, distrusted large, centralised authority where representation is essentially non-existent.

[UglyBonnie]

Framers added the first ten Amendments to the Constitution to further define the limits on the new federal authority. The Tenth Amendment stippulates that the powers not expressly delegated to the general government by the Constitution are reserved to the States, or the people. The rights of the new general government were finite (numbered); the States retained all rights/authority not delegated to the federal government. (to continue once more)

[UglyBonnie]

Mr.DouglasC:

I suspect that you seek a perfect, all-powerful Great Government. That is a pipedream. (You seem critical of Jesus, so do you seek a Utopia-government-god?) The best chance for justice (which you and I both desire) is to have government authority devolved as locally as possible, where redress of grievances is most practical and possible. While equal justice is a worthy goal, we won't reach Utopia in this life. Condemning history because of man's sin is fruitless. God bless.

[MarkDouglasC]

Ugly, thanks. I dont see a perfect all powerful government. I seek truth, balance, honesty, compassion. And you still avoided my point. Religion was the ONLY excuse to start slavery. States rights were the ONLY excuse to keep it.  The question is about states rights --and IM showing that people used it for decades as excuse to continue the most evil behavior you can think of.

[UglyBonnie]

You have not made a point for me to avoid. You assert that religion was the ONLY excuse to start slavery, but you have not backed up your assertion with historical documentation or account. (Did Religion invent slavery? When and how?) U assert that States rights were the ONLY excuse to keep it, but again I am supposed to just take your word for it? You provide no basis for your claim. You make a claim and expect me to disprove it or believe it. This is not debate; it is non-sense.

[UglyBonnie]

On "evil behavior", slavery is not a behavior. It's a poor system of labor fruits distribution and denial of liberty. A slaveholder can sinfully mistreat his slaves or be good and kind to them as the Bible teaches, but he is not a sinner by the fact that he owns them. If you condemn every system or principle that has ever co-existed with slavery, then you must advocate anarchy. Or could slavery even exist in anarchy?

[MarkDouglasC]

Ugly -- Im well aware of the FedPapers, and Im also how the articles of confederation didnt work, so they adopted a constitution. YOu know that too. But you still didnt show me any excuse for slavery, other than religion. Nor did you show me any excuse to keep slavery, other than states rights. And that was our topic.

[UglyBonnie]

Excuse me. I started this thread on the topic of the Constitutional limits on the federal government.

I do not propose any "excuse" for slavery - religion, states rights, or otherwise. I won't show excuse for any social ill - not interested in excuses. You condemned the Framers with inuendo and exaggeration, then extended, "states rights was the ONLY excuse for slavery." Is your point to condemn States rights? No matter; I won't further waste wisdom on you, the ultimate slave of Leviathan.

[MarkDouglasC]

Find me another excuse to keep slavery. I will be waiting. It was the only excuse for keeping slavery, just like religion was the only excuse for starting it. People have always covered their real motivations of greed,lust, power, with any excuse they could find.

[ThugginMoThug]

Mr Kennedy is right. I am a black man and I support Mr Kenndy!

[dicom]

The government that governs best is the government that governs least, and nearest to the source of it's actual power, the people themselves as represented by their sovereign state governments.

Everyone should read Reclaiming Liberty!