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“States’ rights” was by and large an excuse for states to marginalize and oppress their minorities without interference from the Federal Government. (The Federal Government is usually the last line of defense a minority has against the state’s oppression.)

There’s a book that makes an incredibly compelling case called Freedom’s Dominion, highly recommended.

Now when I hear “states’ rights” I complete the thought with, “…to do bad things to people we don’t really like”





You might be overthinking it. Republicans support "states rights" only for red states and when they don't have control of all three branches of the federal government.

Sure… but your point could neatly support my hypothesis, so I’m not sure I understand the distinction.

Republicans don’t need to crow about states’ rights right now because they have an even bigger stick with which to oppress minorities.




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