On Freedoms and Rights

As a citizen of the United States of America, you are guaranteed freedoms by the U.S. Constitution. Let’s examine those freedoms. First of all there are two fundamental and historical documents to consider: The Declaration of Independence which I consider to be the primary founding document. Then there is the Constitution of the United States which I consider to be the primary organizing document.

The Declaration of Independence preceded the constitution by nearly two decades and states at the beginning of the second paragraph: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The next thing to do is to look at the bill of rights which is the first ten amendments to the constitution. We have: Freedom of religion, speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances by the first amendment. The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the second amendment. You shall not be required to provide quarter to any soldiers except in time of war if enacted by law by the third amendment. You are guaranteed the freedom from warrantless searches by the fourth amendment. (This is regularly abused in traffic stops by the police “Open the trunk, please”). The fifth amendment frees you from the risk of double jeopardy; otherwise you may be repeatedly tried until the State got the verdict they wanted. The sixth amendment assures you the right of a speedy trial by a jury of your peers. The seventh amendment grants similar rights to trial in civil cases. The eighth amendment grants freedom from excessive bail and prohibits excessive punishment or fines.

Now notice that except in the case of trials by jury, where your very life or liberty may be at risk, your rights DO NOT impose an OBLIGATION neither upon any other person or group of people nor upon any government.

Therefore we may conclude that there is no right: to medical care, to a useful and remunerative job, earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation, of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living, to trade at home and abroad, of every family to a decent home, to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents and unemployment, a good education.

To demand services or goods from another person is deny that person's rights to the fruits of his labor. To demand services or goods from the government is to deny all of us the right to the fruits of ou labor.