It says our rights are not a privilege bestowed on us by government. It says that the federal government is allowed to exist under these terms, and if the terms are violated by the government, or government actors, then the contract is violated and the actions are illegitimate. Therefore, governments have a duty to prosecute those who violate our rights, including those who do so under the color of law, acting as agents of the state.
I view it as the rules were not written for its citizens, as we are "born with God given rights." It was to prevent draconian government enslaving citizens as it had been in the past and with at the time, the British empire.
Another great, thought-provoking article! And well written. Nice job! I guess all it really does is give you legal recourse in a court of law if they violate it. Like, we promise not to beat you with a stick. But if we do, you can sue us to stop beating you if you have enough money. But as you pointed out, when facing overwhelming power and force, I'll take that over nothing. Still, I wish the operations of the government were administered by federal councils of 9 ordinary citizens like you and me who are selected randomly (i.e. a Collaborative Democracy) instead of politically appointed individuals who serve the political party that appointed them.
According to the current government, we have no rights. They are the masters, judges, juries and executioners. Period. If you practice, say or think otherwise, you are an affirmed enemy of the state...Joey has said as much and congress fully supports this as do the courts.
You don't have rights as given by the government as the government does not have the ultimate power to grant anyone rights. If they do, then they can be rescinded. As humans, we have rights that come from within or other sources and that cannot be rescinded. Go ahead and make a contract with the government and see how fast they renege.
That is why we might have to fight to the death to remain free. Who oversees the government? The citizen hasn't been up to the task in over 160 years. We have unknowingly granted the government the power to control our freedoms, lives and right to live. They will never surrender that power without an all out civil war. Government hates humanity! But humans love government. Go figure.
It's interesting. Everything originally included in the constitution, and the first 10 amendments were about limiting government and guaranteeing the rights of citizens.
Everything since then has been about expanding government and limiting our rights.
“Your rights are yours, naturally. If government went away tomorrow, you would still have them. The only difference is that the entity with the greatest power to violate those rights would be gone.”
Replaced more than gone. Call it government, city-state council, tyrant, street gang… Whatever sovereign entity reigns in your jurisdiction (i.e. whomever resolves disputes and allocates shared resources) has both a responsibility to defend and by extension capability to infringe on your individual rights.
It’s time to cancel the patriot act, and shutter the NSA. The CIA should be streamlined to only military intelligence, and the FBI should be streamlined to a small, clearly defined set of interstate crime. The tax code should be entirely replaced with greatly reduced tax rates, but no deductions, exemptions or any other BS allowed by the current tax code, and get rid of the IRS. You should be able to multiply your income by the tax rate, and be done with it. Get rid of all these groups and 90% of government laws and corruption will go with them.
Well extrapolated, it's a duck that looks like a duck that doesn't know it's a duck.
Abusive negative reactionaries. e.g. The straw was produced by the labor, the King controls the straw and the labor. The labor asked the king for more straw, the King's answer was - of course, the straw will no longer be provided by the king and the labor must produce the straw themselves and produce twice as many bricks. 🤷
Kind'a. I agree with your premise that what the government "grants" as a right, can just as easily be withdrawn (and in the ever-tightening ratchet of authoritarianism of modern gov't it has and slowly is). But the Bill of Rights wasn't initially thought of as rights granted by the federal government. It was a statement, and agreement in writing, to appease the worries of the newly formed states, that their "authority" and reaffirming knowledge of the known god given rights of the individual citizens of each state, who would not be subjects of a federal monarchy, or as we know today a bureaucracy.
Wow Christopher you really got to the Essence of it! Thank you. In the end the government is as you noted a Protection Racket. Thank the Divine for Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin or we would have virtually no rights. But as you note when Predator/Parasite Government Control minimizes and takes away those rights what do we have? Live Free or Die!
Reading what you write always starts me thinking in a a way and in a direction I haven’t before. Thank you!
It says our rights are not a privilege bestowed on us by government. It says that the federal government is allowed to exist under these terms, and if the terms are violated by the government, or government actors, then the contract is violated and the actions are illegitimate. Therefore, governments have a duty to prosecute those who violate our rights, including those who do so under the color of law, acting as agents of the state.
I view it as the rules were not written for its citizens, as we are "born with God given rights." It was to prevent draconian government enslaving citizens as it had been in the past and with at the time, the British empire.
Another great, thought-provoking article! And well written. Nice job! I guess all it really does is give you legal recourse in a court of law if they violate it. Like, we promise not to beat you with a stick. But if we do, you can sue us to stop beating you if you have enough money. But as you pointed out, when facing overwhelming power and force, I'll take that over nothing. Still, I wish the operations of the government were administered by federal councils of 9 ordinary citizens like you and me who are selected randomly (i.e. a Collaborative Democracy) instead of politically appointed individuals who serve the political party that appointed them.
According to the current government, we have no rights. They are the masters, judges, juries and executioners. Period. If you practice, say or think otherwise, you are an affirmed enemy of the state...Joey has said as much and congress fully supports this as do the courts.
You don't have rights as given by the government as the government does not have the ultimate power to grant anyone rights. If they do, then they can be rescinded. As humans, we have rights that come from within or other sources and that cannot be rescinded. Go ahead and make a contract with the government and see how fast they renege.
That is why we might have to fight to the death to remain free. Who oversees the government? The citizen hasn't been up to the task in over 160 years. We have unknowingly granted the government the power to control our freedoms, lives and right to live. They will never surrender that power without an all out civil war. Government hates humanity! But humans love government. Go figure.
It's interesting. Everything originally included in the constitution, and the first 10 amendments were about limiting government and guaranteeing the rights of citizens.
Everything since then has been about expanding government and limiting our rights.
You can’t bring a licensed firearm into a mall? I ask this sincerely. Aren’t there different rules for public accommodations?
Exactly!
Rights are bestowed upon us. A "right" can be taken away, in which case it is a privilege. So how about another word?
How about our being and choices as a being are "sacrosanct," or "inviolable" or "unassailable?"
Those words would be more to the heart of the matter.
Good timing on this great article. I just posted a note this morning on what it means to be an American...
https://substack.com/@dukeofgood/note/c-53681745
“Your rights are yours, naturally. If government went away tomorrow, you would still have them. The only difference is that the entity with the greatest power to violate those rights would be gone.”
Replaced more than gone. Call it government, city-state council, tyrant, street gang… Whatever sovereign entity reigns in your jurisdiction (i.e. whomever resolves disputes and allocates shared resources) has both a responsibility to defend and by extension capability to infringe on your individual rights.
I am enjoying the cold splashes. Thank you. You invite me to think of things in new ways.
It’s time to cancel the patriot act, and shutter the NSA. The CIA should be streamlined to only military intelligence, and the FBI should be streamlined to a small, clearly defined set of interstate crime. The tax code should be entirely replaced with greatly reduced tax rates, but no deductions, exemptions or any other BS allowed by the current tax code, and get rid of the IRS. You should be able to multiply your income by the tax rate, and be done with it. Get rid of all these groups and 90% of government laws and corruption will go with them.
Well extrapolated, it's a duck that looks like a duck that doesn't know it's a duck.
Abusive negative reactionaries. e.g. The straw was produced by the labor, the King controls the straw and the labor. The labor asked the king for more straw, the King's answer was - of course, the straw will no longer be provided by the king and the labor must produce the straw themselves and produce twice as many bricks. 🤷
Absolutely!
Kind'a. I agree with your premise that what the government "grants" as a right, can just as easily be withdrawn (and in the ever-tightening ratchet of authoritarianism of modern gov't it has and slowly is). But the Bill of Rights wasn't initially thought of as rights granted by the federal government. It was a statement, and agreement in writing, to appease the worries of the newly formed states, that their "authority" and reaffirming knowledge of the known god given rights of the individual citizens of each state, who would not be subjects of a federal monarchy, or as we know today a bureaucracy.
Wow Christopher you really got to the Essence of it! Thank you. In the end the government is as you noted a Protection Racket. Thank the Divine for Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin or we would have virtually no rights. But as you note when Predator/Parasite Government Control minimizes and takes away those rights what do we have? Live Free or Die!