Open Thread - 03-03-23 - Unalienable Rights
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Remember that? I had to memorize the Declaration of Independence back in grade school. Then I had to recite it in full in front of the class. We all did, I bet you did too. I wonder if that is still taught in school today? Or has the Declaration of Independence been censored too.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were meant to be unalienable rights, I used the word "were" because I don't know if they are still tenable or not. As far as that goes I'm not sure that "rights" are a thing anymore either. Unalienable rights are kind of a quaint notion in light of how quickly the world has changed in just a few short years don't you think?
Unalienable rights are rights that, no matter what happens, may never be taken away from an individual. As long as you toe the line, an arbitrary line at that.
I've believed in the notion of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness all of my life. Yeah, I know, some people may call me a dreamer. Maybe my whole life has been a dream, it feels like it sometimes, even more today with all that has happened.
That Thomas Jefferson guy, I wonder what he would think about the world today? About how the ideals that he and his contemporaries fought and died for have faded. Back then the tyranny came from across an ocean, it seems like it's everywhere nowadays.
This nation was built upon the idea of freedom from tyranny, and human rights. What a noble notion.
Scratch that thought about that Thomas Jefferson guy, Mr. Jefferson has already told us what he would think of our present situation. I bet he'd be even more pissed off than he was back then. He'd probably be more pissed off at us for letting it slip away.
Comments
Ben Franklin would be disappointed, but not surprised
On leaving the Congressional Convention, he was asked what form of government had been created, He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it."
As for Tom Paine, he would just sigh and say "Here we go again" (or words to that effect).
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
nothing new under the sun
And the Preacher (Qoheleth) from the Jewish book of Ecclesiastes would answer:
Jewish Scriptures, Ecclesiastes 1 source
As long as humans hold authority over other humans, and greedheads yet exist, said greedheads will buy their way into the authority power. There is no new thing under the sun.
And yes, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Good morning Free Rangers...
I'm running on empty this morning.
As is the the country I used to know.
Right there
with you. It is hard to stay positive on *any* aspect of life, right now.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
I don't believe we "lost" any rights.
They are still there. What I think we lost is the basic premise behind that declaration:
All men are created equal.
At this point it's the equality part that we've lost. Some men (and corporations) are more equal than others.
I think that it's the common law we lost. Oh, and manners and respect for the dignity of others.
Loss of equality
If laws are enforced to favor a group or class, and nobody but that group or class, then all non-members have suffered a loss of guaranteed rights. This is common today. sentence
Banksters and Big Pharma commit crimes, such as fraud, theft, and pay fines. They are run by CEOS who never suffer a day in jail, or a personal fine. The corporation pays.
As an individual, don't try it. Not only will you face a prison sentence, you stand to have everything you own seized and forfeited to government. Don't expect Pfizer's assets to be seized. It has been found guilty and paid record fines several times, and it is still going strong.
Smart Cities will curtail our freedom and guaranteed rights in so many ways, they strike me as pogroms.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Gotta' go mow some grass...
I'll catch up this afternoon.
Fly or Die?
As bad as things look today, I feel we will fly again. Other countries will see to it. We are all interconnected, regardless of artificial blocks, borders, or divisions.
Love that song
Another one at ya'
Howdy y'all!
from Texas with love...
tryin' to see if I am capable of following our fearless leaders instructions... I gotta get to work and can't hang as usual... but maybe this is a picker-upper...
I've Been Everywhere Man (in Texas) - Brian Burns
I love the asides he throws in, like after Bridge City 'what a pity'! ROFLMAO! I have been just about everywhere mentioned. Spent much of 85-89 as a traveling salesman (you'd never guess I have awesome bird ties, in the closet for 30 years) just in Texas, probably did at least 150 of Texas' 250+ counties. I've been everywhere man, drove my tires bare man...
The Beer Song - (I drank lots of beer man) - Doug Moreland
I drank most of these beers too, but why put Keystone in a song? Great how he mentions Wicked Ale, which is a Shiner IPA and awesome, and after he says the name, he says 'wicked'. Yeah man, wicked.
I gotta fly to work, have a great day all!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
I've been everywhere
語必忠信 行必正直
I remember drinking a great brand of beer
Great music! Thanks for posting them!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hey dys. Good to see you.
I realize that this happened in London but still
it's coming this way, the fascists at this point in time
can't be stopped.
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
Proposed bill in Florida
Florida bill would require bloggers who write about governor to register with the state
by: Sam Sachs Mar 2
https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/florida-bill-would-require-bloggers-w...
語必忠信 行必正直
oh, that's funny
If you write about an elected official, and you get 5 cents, if you don't apply for a
permit, you are breaking a 'new' law.
Freedom of speech has found a monetizing dimension.
Rates right up there with corporations have peoples' rights.
That would be hilarious in a different time
sending out fund raising letters?
Does blogging include Twitter?
https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/twitter-received-state-sponsored-blackli...
EDIT: Adding this twitter link, america is the biggest perpetrator of misinformation
https://www.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/11h41e8/medical_science_e...
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
about rights
I've seen it mentioned that a right exists only if it can be enforced.
Do people have a right to clean water, clean air, housing, food and medical care? Can they enforce those rights? If not, it may be like that apochryphal story where some officer is telling Hitler something about the Pope objecting to some recent German action. The reply was "how many tank divisions does the Pope have?"
Did Occupy Wall Street have a "right" to peaceful assembly? It looks like someone decided they didn't, no matter what the protesters might have thought.
It seems like when talking about what rights you have, you need to ask yourself the Dirty Harry question: "Do ya feel lucky, punk?" If you don't feel too lucky, you may want to cross that right off the ever shrinking list of "things that I have a right to do/have".
We could start
reclaiming some of our basic rights by putting a firm check on the power of Scotus to decide on vital policy issues where their decision making is driven so clearly by RW ideology. Take away that power, leave them with only the very narrow group of matters to resolve (interstate conflicts, ambassadors) enumerated in the Con. Congress can act on its own to make these reforms reality; no Con amendment needed. This radical change would at least put the people more in charge of important policy matters, rather than an unelected, unaccountable group enjoying lifetime positions, and the range of possible policy issues enacted, rights expanded, would be considerably broader (legislation re free speech/campaign contributions for instance) with the power of Scotus to review being eliminated or severely curtailed.
Obviously this would be too bold a stroke for most of the timid Ds in Congress who would worry about a majority in Congress taking away rights, and most Rs would oppose it as they currently like the outcomes produced by the conservative majority on Scotus. But the voters would have a chance to keep Congress honest; whereas they have no power over lifetime Scotus justices who just make things up to arrive at preordained conclusions. A serious grassroots campaign is needed to encourage Congress to support such reform.
I would suggest term limits
Like POTUS. Every 4 years, but balloting and appointing offset 2 years from presidential
elections. Level the bench.
Term limits
Term limits for Scotus usually involve the idea of limiting justices to a 14-18 yr term on the high Court, then they have the option to serve as Senior Justice on a lower federal circuit court. Term limits would also involve a process that eventually results in a vacancy occurring every 2 yrs, so in a single presidential term there would regularly be two seats on the Court to fill, taking a lot of the politics out of the process.
As a counterpoint...
The next problem we face is that people are complex. On some issues they might lean toward conservatism (RW) and then on others they might lean toward WTF the opposite of RW is. At this point I have no idea. That concept of democrats being the opposite of repubs is pretty quaint at this point.
The situation we have today in this country is one that I believe was enshrined in the interpretation of the constitution in the late 1890s. That the treatment of corporations has some resemblance to human rights. And then the race was on. Hey, if somewhat is good, lots got to be better.
The next biggy is the Citizens United stuff... the dogwhistle to get the "lib" base fired up and then immediately abandoned as soon as the checks rolled in.
There is no red team, blue team. Both have been bought off. Money is speech.
No, no originalism as
Iow, there are only TWO areas where Scotus is the only court which can hear a case -- those involving disputes between states, and cases involving ambassadors. I'm suggesting Congress limit Scotus to hearing only those cases, and nothing else. Note that the Exceptions clause explicitly allows congress to strictly limit what cases Scotus can hear beyond those 2 areas.
I’ve always
liked this one;
edit to add thanks for the simplified instructions
on how to post videos easily
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
great tune
first time heard it
thanks!
Saw
Top ten shoe in every way imaginable
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Ha ha, ho ho, he he; gotta love great rhetoric
in the morning, or at any other time for that matter. Each human possesses an unenumerated quantity of unalienable rights of which life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are but three. A great harangue to base armed revolution on, even if not intended to apply to the real world.
Unalienable = not capable of being alienated; cannot be transferred, bought or sold, taken away, given away, donated, or even abandoned. Hence there could not ever be, in those 13 colonies at any rate, not merely slaves, but indentured servants, no captives in time of war nor prisoners in time of peace. Ah well, it sounds good, don't it?
And then the Bill of Rights enumerated some more while stipulating that the enumeration of some did not imply the lack of others. They've been whittled down to nothing, but they sound nice.
Hmmmm--
So, time to enumerate the original could sere as a start so long as one appropriately substitutes "The oligarchs and their minions" for stuff like "he", or perhaps not so much. Anyway, pens to paper, folks
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
The people of the Donbas,
Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, could have said in declaring their independence what our founding fathers said:
Indeed. n/t
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Nope……
.
I read yesterday that Obama declared a national emergency after Crimea voted to rejoin Russia and Biden just reauthorized it for another year. Plus don’t forget that Obama rescinded habeas corpus and if you don’t have that right you are not free. This authorization gives Biden power that allows him to suspend any right he chooses. And one is he can freeze your bank account…
The FISA bill that allows any government agency to spy on us has been re-upped every year since. Biden is asking congress to do it again.
Executive order 13603
During Bush the idiot every government agency bought millions of rounds of ammunition and you gotta wonder what the government is planning on doing with it. IRS, SSA, and other agencies that have nothing to do with homeland security are armed to the gills. Biden said good luck with your AR-15 when they go against military jets. I’m betting that drones will be used against us one day.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
EO 13603 is pursuant to and updates/refreshes
Defense Production Act of 1950; Public Law 81-774
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Inalienable
has alien in it, so we must build a wall and pass some laws to stop it.
S/
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
speaking of pertinent music
I was still in high school, when I saw Quicksilver perform this passionate song in concert in Dallas. It is easy to forget how the Empire conducted itself all along. I still feel like a stranger in the land where I was born,
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
As EL or JS once mentioned
when I posted this song
this should be our national anthem
played before every game and
taught to school children
thanks for the lyrics
I misread this
I thought it said that a cancerous lesion had Biden removed from it.
Ahh well reading is hard some days.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Brought to you by Pfizer in 2014
This is a 2014 WHO commercial. It talks about creating a vaccine passport way back then which goes to show how long the parasites have been planning their takeover of the world.
But maybe there is hope:
Comment from Katherine:
It’s 20 years overdue and probably much longer, but if states will finally stand up to the unlawful rescission of the Constitution I’m all for this. Mike Lee runs on being an enforcer for freedom, but so far he’s been very lacking on actually doing anything about the unlawful laws that congress has been passing. Every time that the 702 bill has come up for reauthorization he should have been doing everything in his power to both bring attention to and block it from passing. Congress cannot give the government the power to abuse the constitution. I don’t think the founders stuttered! Congress shall make no law…. Just what came out of congress grilling the Twitter gurus for working with government agencies to stifle free speech! Nice show in my opinion and important information was seen and yet…..? Biden’s ministry of truth is still being formed. And how about the work around the government uses by letting foreign countries spy on us and then use their information?
JtC anyway to put a video in a certain area of the comment?
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
figure out where you want the video.
prepare column or comment up to that place: yadayadayada blah blah:
[here] if you wish, you can center the location "[here]"
paste embed code in locatiion "[here]"
To get embed code
1) right click youtube select "copy embed code" from drop down menu; done
2 below youtube, in control area select "share", in the pop-up in the youtube field, select embed at the bottom of the new popup to the right, select copy
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
The US never supported a right to Life
...for US citizens or for anybody else.
Rather than moral principles, the US has a moral "Culture" — an elaborate fantasy narrative that justifies its aggressive self interest at the expense of other nations, such as the US theft of Syria's oil that is taking place right now. The US Moral Culture been consistent throughout the country's brief history. This means that International treaties and agreements are regularly betrayed by US Government deceit when a new administration is seated.
People in the US often list Human Right among the rights they believe they have, according to the Constitution. But, of course, the Constitution has no idea what a Human Right is, and the civil rights that are conveyed in the Constitution are regularly misunderstood, revised, or pointedly ignored.
Read on to learn what drives US fear and arrogance about ratifying treaties.
— from the Global Justice Center, "U.S. Aversion to International Human Rights Treaties"
.
In the end, the US government's isolationist attitudes continue to damage the lives and deny the rights of the US population.
Refusing to ratify human rights treaties weakens U.S. international leadership and deprives American citizens of protections they deserve. The United States is willing to sign onto substantive trade agreements but not human rights agreements. The US may participate superficially with the international human rights community by posing for a "signing" photo-op. But treaties are not legally binding unless they are ratified by the Senate. Human Rights treaties are rarely sent to the senate.
Such cynical behavior reveals the longstanding priorities of the US to legally limit the human rights of its citizens, which are regularly violated in the US. Leaders and politicians in the US may point to a human rights treaty that was signed at the UN by the US Ambassador, and treat it as a symbolic affirmations of US values. Normally, these international Human Rights treaties established the legal foundation that would translate into human rights victories for the citizens of the signing countries. But this is not the case in the United States, where these treaties were never ratified by the Senate. Human Rights are not the rule of law inside the United States, and the US is not the human rights champion it has so long claimed to be.
IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"
The Supreme Court declined to hear
a case from Arkansas. The Arkansas government prohibits all government contractors from supporting or in any way doing business with supporters engaging in BDS protest practices.
If state government can limit free speech on employees, then so can all businesses in the state.
Protesting is often restricted as to place of assembly.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Unalienable rights?
You want rights be alienable? Yes, I would like them alienable. Who wants to live with rights you can't get rid off? Must be a bad joke.
Aliens, whom did you want to mess around with. Can't fool me. Thanks.
It is helpful to not understand the meaning of aliens and alienable. hmm ... I guess some alien has messed around with my mind. Sorry.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Hum?
The right to life is granted by the universal magic, it seems to me, and the right to be free is grounded in same magi, evolution; i wonder if the founders discussed their intent this way?
Hey smiley
good to see you are here
hope the back is better!
Great posts everybody...
outstanding commentary. This was one of those instances when it's best for me to bow out and leave it to the community to respond.
Thank you.