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>>Oh Joy, the lawyers are in on it now.<<

I am a lawyer, myself. Following this closely. (They also serve who only stand and wait.)

The intersection between individual rights and public rights (like public health) is an interesting one.

If SARS breaks bad, no doubt there will be many who will argue that if you are worried about SARS, you should stay home, rather than impinge on their rights to go whereever they want and do whatever they want.

On the other side will be those who argue in favor of the rights of the public good (admittedly a somewhat ephemeral and nebulous concept).

I tend to side with the public good on this one. I put SARS and other deadly epidemics in pretty much the same category was war, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and massive fires. There may come a time in your life where you had better listen and cooperate, and everybody can worry about the details later. If so, sit down, shut up, and do what you're told (within reason).

I don't expect everybody to agree with me, but if you were my client, that's what I'd advise (always within reason) because that's how the case will turn out anyway.

The police power of the state has always extended to matters of public health for hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years.

We are all part of the body politic, parties to the social contract.

I agree with you I think public health beats spoiled brat. :)

You may be missing the tone of my question.

How will the federal law interface with state,Texas and local, Dallas and/or whatever county it is in?

May this mans defense drag the feds in?

If Texas dosn't do what the feds want, can the feds override texas?