Truth be told, it probably doesn't even mention "States" rights anywhere in the whole of the Constitution. That said, who is higher, the potter or the pot? The States AND The People created the feral government.
Good point. And I should’ve been more clear.
Amendment X addresses the subject of powers, not rights. That’s an important distinction, and, in my opinion, should decide where we launch our attack.
If the states and the people have all proper powers not delegated to the national government, then the national government is outside its jurisdiction on many issues.
All too often, “rights” debates go unresolved, and are thus viewed by many as ultimately unresolvable except by a superior (i.e. federal) arbiter. A “power” debate is not only free of this historical baggage and lopsided advantage, but also focuses our attention on a more alarming subject (power) and clarifies the contestants in the struggle (federal vs. state governments).
I’d like to see the debate framed as “States’ Defense” or “States’ Jurisdiction” or some such.