Guest Post by Eric Peters
What are our “rights” – and where do they come from?
This is the question which answers all the others.
The Bill of Rights, it is said, grants our rights. This is a horrible and dangerous idea; one all too many Americans have been bamboozled into believing. Anything which is granted can also be taken away – which of course is just what’s happened and precisely why it was so important to convince Americans that their rights are granted . . . in order to get them to accept their being taken away.
In fact, the Bill was written specifically as a statement of fact, intended to acknowledge our inviolable rights. To put a finer point on it, to make it very crystal clear that whatever was written in the Constitution in no way obviated our rights.
These rights existed prior the scribbling of the Bill – and will exist long after it is officially “just a goddamn piece of paper.”
It is worth recounting that the Bill of Rights barely made it – was tacked on to the Constitution as a kind of sop to suspicious Virginians like George Mason. To get them to support the Constitution, or at least not oppose it too much.
Which they did, reluctantly – much to our regret.
The foundational problem goes back to before even the Declaration of 1776 – which reads gloriously but doesn’t really define the source and nature of the rights it talks about.
The concept of “rights” was never quite fleshed out – and the general understanding of them was – and still is – generally hazy. Which has led to “rights” becoming things granted rather than things which cannot rightfully be taken away.
Even at the time of the Declaration, most people had not yet formulated the question: Do each of us, by dint of the fact that we exist, have absolute sovereignty over ourselves – or not?
If we do, then it follows that no state or government has sovereignty over ourselves; that no law may be passed which infringes in the slightest way on our absolute right to do as we please with ourselves, nor take from us anything which is the result of the labor of ourselves (including the labor of our minds).
In other words, the right to liberty and property – a far more precise elucidation than “happiness” – follows from our rightful ownership of ourselves.
Our individual and indivisible sovereignty.
Each of us co-equals in that respect only.
To violate liberty or property is to assert ownership over the self of another – and that is the very definition of slavery. The degree of slavery is as irrelevant as the degree to which a woman is pregnant.
She either is – or she is not.
If it is accepted that our self-ownership is partial to even the slightest degree – that others may rightfully assert ownership over us, to whatever degree – then the principle of slavery has been accepted and it is inevitable that, in time, it will increase in degree.
Which of course is just what’s happened.
Is it surprising?
If it is accepted that others may lawfully take even a single cent from the person who rightfully owns it, then what is to prevent them from taking a dollar?
If is accepted that others may forcibly compel another person to do as they prefer with his property, then it is no longer his property. He has become a tenant.
If it is accepted that others may interpose themselves – and their laws – between a man and those with whom he’d like to transact business and otherwise associate with (or not) according to terms and conditions mutually agreeable to the parties involved – then that man has become their servant.
One who cannot quit.
If a man is subject to being punished (i.e., held accountable) not for harms he has caused but for actions which others have decided they find unacceptable – or which they assert might cause harm – then that man is no longer free.
He is the temporary beneficiary of conditional privileges granted by others. Privileges which may be limited at their discretion and rescinded at their whim. There is a word for such a condition:
Slavery.
To believe it is possible to limit slavery – which is a more accurate way to describe what is meant by the concept of “limited government” – is an idea as silly a notion as believing that pregnancy can be limited, once conception has occurred.
The “baby” will be born.
It is merely a question of when.
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The government is using adhesion contracts to steal our liberties.
Let me correct that for you Bob. The government is using ignorance, apathy and general fear to steal our liberties. They have convinced US that WE need them. That is the con. If people were to wake up tomorrow and have the idea that those “in charge” are only in charge because we LET THEM, SUPPORT THEM, and DO WHAT THEY SAY. Things would change, and FAST.
As long as they can tell you, and you believe:
That without the TSA, your airplane will blow up
That without the SWAT team drug dealers and rapists will steal your daughter and wife.
That without a drivers license, it will be bumper cars and mad max on the highway.
That without banksters, you will not be able to have things and commerce.
That without EPA, we will all die due to the planet turning in to Mars.
That without “the greatest military in the world” we will be invaded tomorrow by the 21st century Genghis Khan.
That without immigration we will all starve as there will be no one to pick food.
Etc.
It is all nothing but a giant protection racket. They cause the problem, then come in and have the “solution”. All you have to do is believe, and do as you are told.
Extremely insightful and thought provoking piece Admin…
I’ve been feeling the weight of my invisible chains MORE THAN USUAL lately…
Regards…
To a certain extent we all make compromises. I deal with the TSA BS for the convenience of flying; the DUI checkpoints for the convenience of driving. You have to choose your own battles. Now if they ever come for my weapons on some trumped up red flag nonsense, that’s my GOD GIVEN right to self defense they want to take from me. And that’s a hill I’m willing to die on.
The only thing I would like to add between “WARRANT” and “.” is “, MOTHERFUCKER”
These bastards can s*ck a d*ck!
some lawmakers in maryland are trying to ban the use of commercial dna databases–
https://godfatherpolitics.com/maryland-democrats-want-to-prevent-police-from-using-dna-database-to-solve-crimes/
It’s a good thing they wrote some rights down, and the notion that some rights are bestowed by the creator made into print also. As Scalia kinda said “The bill of rights exists in case the majority says it doesn’t”. Maybe the whole problem here could be we need to teach civics/history every single year of school? They only require Pledge of Allegiance in grade school now, and not even that if you don’t want to. Personally I think kids should have some fun with it and say it REALLY LOUD if they want.
The illusion of owning property or ones self has been taxed away forming a level of indentured servitude . Like the horse harnessed with blinders , we now only see what the big club wants us to see . Any effort to view what should be as opposed to what has become the norm through complacency is viewed as problematic at least or even considered criminal at worst .
In steps the armed badge wearing minions of government to keep your ass on the plantation .
Income tax and property tax in all its forms is nothing less then orginized government theft . Any effort to take a stand against the leviathon of government will bring down the wrath from those who paraciticaly profit from government theft . The system is fully rigged now to keep you harnessed .
Look at government pension plans all in some level of insolvency due to mismanagement , over promising and out right fraud and theft ! Now all who will never see a benefit from a government pension are expected to see to the fully funding of these failed accounts by legal edict decided and forced upon the population by those who will benefit , government employees such as judges and law enforcement will tax us into the street for their benefit . That is at the very least indentured servitude and at worst slavery ! Remember as an American citizen thanks to the confiscatory tax system you own nothing including yourself !