[cripplecreek]

If the states weren’t intended to have rights there wouldn’t be any states at this point.

[ChrisInAR]

IMO, the states voluntarily gave up their rights when they ratified the 17th Amendment back in 1913.

[jwparkerjr]

But they (we) have no one to blame but themselves (ourselves). The states have been systematically bought off for over half-a-century. I don't know the exact figure but I would be nearly a third of the money spent in the various states is federal dollars. The problems that go along with this are legion. Money sent to DC and then back to the state loses a great deal of its spending power. With the money comes all sorts of federal control of programs and activities that were never seen to be the responsibility of government at any level, let alone the federal government.

If we ever hope to wrest control of our lives from the ever-tightening grasp of government we simply MUST do two things to start with: One, get government at all levels out of financing and directing things aren't their job, and Two, stop the use of the tax code to finance social engineering at level of government.