[cuban leaf]

—which is why it is absurd to argue for “states rights”—

Actually, no. The context of the phrase “states rights” is the same as the context of “citizen’s rights”. The context is “states ‘rights’ vs the federal government’s power over the states “right” to exercise their own power.

[Matchett-PI]

—....which is why it is absurd to argue for “states rights....”—

cuban leaf: "Actually, no. The context of the phrase “states rights” is the same as the context of “citizen’s rights”. The context is “states ‘rights’ vs the federal government’s power over the states “right” to exercise their own power."

Actually yes.

Better read it again....THIS TIME more carefully. By "more carefully", I mean that you will have to pay close attention to the two phrases you completely overlooked in your out of context excerpt. To wit:

"....'in order to'..." ---and--- "....as a pretext to'..."

bttt