Peter Schiff "Radio" with Marc - July 6, 2011

[John T. Kennedy]

eye2i2hear Wrote:Par usual, FWIW:

Black's Law Dictionary, 9th, pgs 278, 317, and 1537-8 Wrote:citizen, n. (l4c) I. A person who, by either birth or natu­ralization, is [highlight=#E6FF99]a member of a political community, owing allegiance to the community and being entitled to enjoy all its civil rights and protections[/highlight]; a member of the civil state, entitled to all its privileges. Cf. RESIDENT; DOMI­CILIARY. [Cases: Aliens, Immigration, and Citizenship 652
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commuuity. (14c) 1. A neighborhood, vicinity, or locality. 2. A society or group of people with similar rights or interests. 3. Joint ownership, possession, or participation.
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state, n. (16c) 1. [highlight=#E6FF99]The political system[/highlight] of a body of people who are politically organized; the system of rules by which jurisdiction and authority are exercised over such a body of people.
Also termed political society. Cf. NATION. [Cases: Inter­national Law ~3.]
...
2. An institution of self-government within a larger political entity; esp., one of the constituent parts of a nation having a federal government <the 50 states>. [Cases: States 1.]
3. (often cap.) The people of a state, collectively considered as the party wronged by a criminal deed; esp., the prosecution as the representa­tive of the people <the State rests its case>.

These definitions don't have primacy over reality, they are an attempt to describe reality. In this case the definitions are inadequate and a reasonable person adjusts them so that they correspond better with reality. So I would say to Black: Yes I recognize the agencies you call states, but you have misunderstood their nature. But I see no reason not to call them states.