State's rights issues are NOT neo-confederate. It is simply an acknowledgment that there are some things that the Federal government does that are NOT within it's realm of duties.
There are many areas where having Federal authority is nice, but, nice does NOT mean legal!
For example: Education - Education is a state responsibility. The federal government has no legal authority to involve itself in education at all, other than to ensure everyone has access to it. It's nice to have a lot of rules & stuff, but I don't want my kids to be forced to get books like Texas mandates. One size does NOT fit all!
Agriculture - Agriculture is another area where the federal government has overstepped it's bounds. I see no authority in the Constitution for the federal government to regulate agriculture that does not cross state lines. If you can find a part of Art I, sec 8 that I've missed, please let me know.
Health - Ditto. Health has always been the realm of the state, and now we have Obamacare.
Housing - another one. Other than ensuring that all people have an equal access to housing based on race, creed or national origin, why do we have a housing department? (Note: equal opportunity does not mean equal housing for all. If I can't afford a Bill Gates house, I don't get one just because I want one).
Energy - Under what part of Art II does the executive branch regulate energy? What portion of Art I sec 8 gives congress authority to involve itself in energy? I am sorely befuddled by this department.
Labor - Unless it involves (directly) interstate commerce, how can the federal government get involved? Under what authority of Art I, sec 8 can congress do this? Under what power? Where are those magic lines? Sure, in this economic crisis, it is nice to have a central authority, but it isn't necessarily right.
Transportation - except for the establishment of roads for carrying post, I see no authority under the Constitution to involve the federal government in transportation.
We are, all of us, living in the country that FDR gave us. He forced a lot of this through during the thirties, another one of those unsettling times. What will we give our grandkids?