[eleni121]

I am a big states rights supporter
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Well I'm not. The tyranny of the state/village/small town can be far more repressive than the tyranny of a national govt.

As for the rest of what you say.. fortunately that is the case. States have no business taxing interstate commerce -it's illegal for one. So why is it that NYS for instance demands that we pay tax on what we purchase in neighboring states?

[Arkinsaw]

States rights is a tool to prevent the tyranny of the national government...the national government, through the 14th Amendment, is the tool to prevent the tyranny of the state/local government.

As the Federalist Papers say, it is the duty of the citizen to, in each case, "adhere" to that jurisdiction that is best defending their liberties at that moment.

Unfortunately, we have not done a good job as citizens. We have used states rights as a tool to supress the liberties of our neighbors rather than defend the liberties of all. Many of us have also adhered to the federal government to use it as a tool to enforce the will of a few onto the many.

The combination of states rights, and national sovereignty, are supposed to be played off against each other by citizens to keep each in check. It has basically worked, just with wider swings between state and federal than one would hope.

When the national government becomes to powerful or violates liberties then citizens can use the state to interpose itself as a shield. When the state becomes to powerful then the citizens can appeal to the national government to interpose between them and the state.

Do not discount the tool provided to us by the founders just because we have not used it as they intended.