[*]I'm not disagreeing, or saying that 'we the people' shouldn't, or cannot thumb our noses at the Fed's, or State's when they infringe on our rights. But how exactly is the Federal government infringing upon Arizona's [Their state government, not their people as a whole] "rights"? From what I've read and saw in T.V. and news papers, Arizona has been a thorn in the entire nations' side since Brewer was put in office down there; Insulting the executive office, more so the title; then insulting and giving a finger to the actual person, by using unconfirmed opinions and wishful thinking to slander him concerning their actual place of birth. The state gov't making, passing, and failing; laws that put the Federal Government, Congress, executive, and SCOTUS on edge and make them face-palm hard. In my point of view, Arizona is a rogue-state, because much like certain political parts, and minority groups, They [Arizona state gov't] are perceiving a false fear, and using little crumbs and Congressional actions, to raise heck, and use fear mongering of their own people, so the state Gov't can make laws to make them their own nation, so they don't have to abide by federal law that reins them in.
I dunno, just my opinion. But for some reason, I have a feeling in my gut that tells me, although its good for states to strong powers, however, we have a federal government in place to make sure the states don't abuse their powers. If Arizona is allowed to veto, repeal, and move away from the national gov't, more-so than what they could do before, then it makes me wonder if they'll just fight off every single thing the feds pass, in our national assembly, housed with we the people's representatives, two from every state... or three, i forget the exact number of senators from every state.
[2]I made that statement based on the state level, I know of the history of the fed's and states' on the issue of slavery, and I make no stand against what you say. But, excepting one thing. If it's the federal government's fualt for restricting and enforcing bigotry and racial unease, on states, and therefore on the peoples themselves, then why is it that in this modern world, the Federal government is neutral, or leaning in some favorability to equal rights and protections for LGBT's under the law, yet a good portion of states's legislatures, and state courts, have fought hard to use state government to make religious laws, and other rulings, to further oppress another group of people? Sorry, but it's all on the state's for both issues. The federal government has been mostly neutral with the major issues of freedom of our people, it's almost always been the individual, or collection of, states who have fought to oppress, and keep low the down trodden.
Sure, the Federal government isn't a good entity, nor is it exactly a bad entity, it's only good when one political group who supports it, happens to beat down the opposition and keep them quiet on the mass media. For example, prior to the 1950's, my home state of KY was the one at fault for racial laws, even when early 1900's SCOTUS ruled against, or in favour, of our racial laws;
http://www.ket.org/civilrights/timeline.htm
I don't have enough time to finish this, my BF is trying drag me to the shower... Can't a guy go the whole weekend without bathing and not be forced to bathe? D: This is bigotry I say! discrimination on men's rights to not bathe in their time off!