<quote name="Levi Pearson" date="Fri, 27 Jun 2008 at 23:34 -0600"> > Andy Bradford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > > And unless one is atheist, one believes those rights come directly from > > God or The Creator (as hinted at in the Declaration of Independence). > > But then, who ever reads such antiquated documents anyway? > > Even atheists can give rational justification for inalienable rights, > which exist due to rational codes of ethics. Indeed the wording of > 'We hold these truths to be self-evident' suggests that God is not > actually part of the reasoning. > > This isn't to say that I don't believe the rights came from God, but I > believe it is useful to be able to argue politics without an appeal to > divinity. A government that supports freedom of religion should not > rely on religious tenets. > > Here are some other interesting passages from the Declaration of > Independence: > > "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from > the consent of the governed" > > This suggests to me that the government may justly develop powers > beyond the basic protection of natural rights through democratic > means. > > "... institute new Government, laying its foundation on such > principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall > seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." > > Again, government may be organized by its constituents in such a way > that they perceive likely to bring about their safety and happiness. > I interpret this rather more broadly than you seem to. > > "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established > should not be changed for light and transient causes;" > > Our government has, by now, been long established itself. Not that > I'm accusing you and Von of being on the cusp of revolution, but you > do propose fairly radical change. Perhaps you don't view your cause > as light or transient, but opinions certainly vary on that, and at the > moment I believe you are in a small minority.
Abandoning the constitution for democracy by the sword, for terror, and for 'security.' I'm not saying your ideas are tantamount to these, but I am saying we must be watchful, and I ask you at least try to justify regulation against rights and liberty as I described. Von Fugal
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