2007-06-12 20:36:44 · 7 answers · asked by Ting 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
right to abortion - gotta go
right to a fair trial should be reinstated
2007-06-12 20:43:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
The question is in error on two counts, both already commented on in the previous answers.
Rights cannot be taken away; rights cannot be granted. The reason for this is simple -- it comes from the fact of sentience and its nature.
It goes like this: the primary thing a sentient being knows is "I exist". As Descartes noted, we know this because the very act of thinking shows that there's an "I" to do that thinking; hence, "I think; thus, I am". Following that is the awareness that this "I" which exists is subject to me: the thoughts of this "I" come from me, are directed by me; the body this "I" experiences responds to my thoughts... with regard to this "me", I choose, and it happens -- thus, "I choose; therefore I am in charge of myself", or more simply, "I'm in charge of myself", or the Libertarian version, "I own myself".
Self-ownership has numerous implications, and those implications flower into inherent, often self-evident, rights -- such as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (philosophical or existential rights) as well as self-defense, freedom of expression, etc. (expressional or practical rights). Since self-ownership is a fact of existence, and rights are nothing more than facets of self-ownership, rights arise from and reside in individuals, and nowhere else -- and conversely, nothing is a right that does not come from or belong to an individual, nor does any entity but the individual have rights.
So rights cannot be taken away; they inhere in the person -- nor can they be granted, since only persons have them.
What can be taken away is the free exercise of rights. Should any be taken away, ever? No -- to take away any right, for any cause, is to diminish a person, to reduce the value of an individual, and to the degree to which free exercise of rights is limited, it is to declare that these individuals are not in fact actual persons, but something less.
From that follows the proposition stated by another writer: any government which does not not only permit free exercise of all rights but declares, establishes, and defends them (above all else) them, is not a legitimate government.
2007-06-13 05:50:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone should enjoy the rights granted by the US Constitution. None should be taken away or altered.
2007-06-13 03:42:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Rights are not "granted" by the government. They are either protected by the government or not. And governments tha tdo not protect the rights of the citizen have no legitimacy.
2007-06-13 04:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No rights should ever be taken away. Your rights are supposed to be guaranteed. That's why they're called rights.
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2007-06-13 03:44:09 · answer #5 · answered by Kacky 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No rights should ever be taken away! The Patriot Act is completely wrong and should be abolished. *sm*
2007-06-13 04:32:39 · answer #6 · answered by LadyZania 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do ya wanna start a new country or just screw around with this one? Don't like our Bill of Rights.....go live in some other less advanced culture !
2007-06-13 03:45:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋