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JWeinCom on 14 February 2016
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sabvre42 said:
JWeinCom said:

What he is stating is not in the context of this conversation, because this conversation is not about which rights are delegated to the states or the federal government.  The conversation was about WHETHER IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT AT ANY LEVEL TO FORCE PEOPLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. If the state can enforce a speed limit, then enforcing a speed limit is constitutional.  

Being a state law doesn't mean that it doesn't have to be constitutional.  So, when I said it is constitutional to force people to drive a certain speed limit, that is absolutely correct.  If you think it's not constitutional, then please sue the state for acting unconstitutionally next time you get a speeding ticket, and see how that goes..  I never ever ever stated that the federal government has the power to enforce speed limits.  Yet people are talking down to me as though I did. I was just giving examples of the government constitutionally forcing people to do things, with examples from different levels of government.  For fuck's sake people, learn to read.

 

The federal constitution governs federal rights. A state constitution is in addition to federal rights. If something is unconstitutional at a federal level, it can still be constitutional at a state.

 

You were making a strawman argument.

No, I was not... maybe if you read the original post you'd know that?

The post was about whether or not it is constitutional to force people to do things.  I said it was, and provided a few examples.  I never mentioned anything about the federal government or the state, nor did the original post I was replying to.  So I really don't know why people outside the conversation started bringing that into it.

And yes, the constitution does govern state rights.  This is the supremacy clause of the constituition.  Article VI section 2 I think.  A state cannot limit your free speech, perform an illegal search and seizure, or make discriminatory laws.  A state cannot put something in its state constitution that is not in compliance with the federal constitution.  So, if a state can force people to take certain actions, then it is constitutional to force people to take certain actions.  Plus I also gave examples from a federal level as well. It's not a strawman argument, it's basic logic. 

If you think that it is unconstitutional for government to force you to wear clothes, wear a seatbelt, or drive a certain speed limit, then please go out naked and drive 140 miles per hour without a seatbelt.

Plus, I gave examples where the goverment can at a federal level force you to do certain things (income tax, drafting) and gave a specific part of the constitution that allows for taxing for common welfare (article one section 8).  So I have no idea why you're harping on one example you didn't like.