Why do so many posters use the phrase "let the states decide"

[OSR stands with Israel]

on things not at all related to states and the federal government just to mock that argument .

On many issues letting the states decide is a perfectly reasonable argument as thats the constitutional argument on those issues .

[Antonio the Sixth]

fiscally freedom phrase, socially horrible phrase

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It's because on so many issues, those who claim to be in favor of letting States decide, only do so when their position doesn't find favor with the Federal government.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I think it became a joke when a lot of people used it as a ridiculous way of avoiding the question. It doesn't actually tell us anything about your opinions (what's my opinion on education? the states should decide imo). It's as if somebody answered questions by saying "the democratically elected Congress should decide" - technically true, but kind of irrelevant in the context of a discussion forum.

[This account no longer in use.]

It's a meme you dip

[Kingpoleon]

let the counties decide

[Technocracy Timmy]

let the cities decide

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The smallest minority is the individual. Self-autonomy ftw

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Let Grumps decide

[Sir Mohamed]

People or politicians say it to avoid expressing their opinion on a controversial issue. Or because they really have no opinion on it.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Let the HOAs decide.

[Mr. Smith]

Mods plz delete

[Cashew]

Hold a referendum on the issue.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Imagine going through your entire life with absolutely no sense of irony or sarcasm. Either that, or Winfield is our single most successful troll ever.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Both sides do it.

[NeverAgain]

While I disagree eith him on many issues, nice guy ff

[OSR stands with Israel]

Do people not understand we have an amendment which literally says that on many issues we need to let the states decide .

[angus]

This is a question mark:  ?

This is a period:  .

This is a space: 

The question mark is used at the end of an interrogative sentence.  The period is used at the end of an indicative sentence.  The space is used between words.  The space is neither required nor desirable before either a period or a question mark. 

For future reference, this is an exclamation mark:  !

It is generally used with an interjection.  For example, "Fuck off!"

Note that the exclamation mark also does not want a space immediately preceding it.  Some interjections may be set aside using a comma, particularly if the feeling is not very strong.  For example, "Dammit, just stop already."

The exclamation mark can also be used in conjunction with a question mark.  For example, "Do you really not understand the meme?!"

Note that there is no space between the last character and the question mark.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Do people not understand we have an amendment which literally says that on many issues we need to let the states decide .

     The federal split between states and the national government is an important one, but advancing it as a specific response to a policy question is an evasive non-answer; hence the memetic status that the phrase has achieved.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I think it became a joke when a lot of people used it as a ridiculous way of avoiding the question. It doesn't actually tell us anything about your opinions (what's my opinion on education? the states should decide imo). It's as if somebody answered questions by saying "the democratically elected Congress should decide" - technically true, but kind of irrelevant in the context of a discussion forum.

The main issue with "let the states decide" in this case is unless you're a federal politician running for office, it doesn't make any sense as a position. "It should be a state issue, but my personal position is this..." is different from just "let the states decide."

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Do people not understand we have an amendment which literally says that on many issues we need to let the states decide .

in my opinion the government should get out of the business of letting states decide altogether and leave states deciding to the private sector

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

Let the autonomous neighborhood collectives/work teams decide.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Let the autonomous neighborhood collectives/work teams decide.

That is usually phrased "all power to the soviets," no?

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

Let the autonomous neighborhood collectives/work teams decide.

That is usually phrased "all power to the soviets," no?

I was thinking more, "smash the four olds!" but I guess the USSR works too

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Ironically, if your answer to the question "what do you want to do about issue X" is "let the states decide,"  it suggests you don't identify with your state but only with the national government.  If you care about being a citizen of a state or locality you are going to have an opinion about what it should or shouldn't do, and not speak as though it being an issue to be decided at the state level means it's a non-issue.