4 ms·

I'd say civil rights were the perfect example. If legal slavery was a federal law, it would still exist today. The beauty of states rights is that there's con

I'd say civil rights were the perfect example. If legal slavery was a federal law, it would still exist today. The beauty of states rights is that there's context to see why something is good or bad. Rather than the despotic federal boot that crushes any dissent.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
I doubt that is the case. As I understand it slavery was expected to be on the outs for economic reasons anyway when the constitution was written, so abolishonists gave ground they might not have given if they knew the cotton gin would make slavery viable again. Regardless, I think slavery is a dreadful example because it leaves the definition of personhood up to individual states and that is ridiculous.
- edmcnulty101 5y ago
  Yeah agreed. There still is a purpose of the federal government and that's enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Slavery does not even fit in to those basic fundamental Bill of Rights.
falcolas 5y ago
> If legal slavery was a federal law, it would still exist today. Perhaps if the confederacy had won, given that the confederate government did institute laws to that effect upon its member states: confederate states were not allowed to aid or abet fugitive slaves. Confederate Statutes, Chapter 19, Section 50. But they didn't, and the United States government explicitly abolished slavery (despite some states wanting it, and some states not) that we don't have slavery in the US, not even in the states which embrace confederacy ideals today. And, not having slavery? That's a good thing. Thanks, US Government.
- edmcnulty101 5y ago
  Thank the Northern states you mean.
  - falcolas 5y ago
    No. I mean what I said. The US Government is made up of representatives from the states, but it was not the state governments who wrote the law, it was the federal government.

4 ms·

I'd say civil rights were the perfect example. If legal slavery was a federal law, it would still exist today. The beauty of states rights is that there's con

by edmcnulty101 5y ago

AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
I doubt that is the case. As I understand it slavery was expected to be on the outs for economic reasons anyway when the constitution was written, so abolishonists gave ground they might not have given if they knew the cotton gin would make slavery viable again. Regardless, I think slavery is a dreadful example because it leaves the definition of personhood up to individual states and that is ridiculous.
- edmcnulty101 5y ago
  Yeah agreed. There still is a purpose of the federal government and that's enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Slavery does not even fit in to those basic fundamental Bill of Rights.
falcolas 5y ago
> If legal slavery was a federal law, it would still exist today. Perhaps if the confederacy had won, given that the confederate government did institute laws to that effect upon its member states: confederate states were not allowed to aid or abet fugitive slaves. Confederate Statutes, Chapter 19, Section 50. But they didn't, and the United States government explicitly abolished slavery (despite some states wanting it, and some states not) that we don't have slavery in the US, not even in the states which embrace confederacy ideals today. And, not having slavery? That's a good thing. Thanks, US Government.
- edmcnulty101 5y ago
  Thank the Northern states you mean.
  - falcolas 5y ago
    No. I mean what I said. The US Government is made up of representatives from the states, but it was not the state governments who wrote the law, it was the federal government.