What are our "inalienable" rights in 21st century America?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Pursuit of happiness? Sure. But the golden ring is being held by a carny.

Health? You got it! If you can afford it.

Happiness? Only if you are easily pleased and don't want to marry someone of your own sex or smoke the occasional joint.

Privacy? We don't really need that one any more because our neighbor might be Al Qaida.

The ability to face our accusers? We don't need that. If someone in a uniform or with credentials says we are guilty, we obviously are because Government doesn't make mistakes.




Is America dead and we just haven't figured it out yet?

[northofdenali]

1. It appears that

we have the right to remain silent.......

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. LOL... Unfortunately, you are spot on.

:toast:

[Mythsaje]

2. I'm still trying to figure out the answer to THAT one...n/t

[Vorta]

3. There are no unalienable rights.

The DOI was political prose and an indictment- it is not law nor is it in any way founded in logic. Neither God nor nature has endowed us with unalienable rights.

Our organic morality has arrived at some things which we believe are essential to peaceful and profitable co-existence, but each and every one of them is negotiable and has been violated by government or community throughout the history of this nation.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. That is one of the most accurate, well written and unexpected posts

to the OP that i never expected. My hat is off to you.

:toast:

[whistle]

6. We have the Constitution which begins:

The Constitution of the United States of America
Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

This is followed by the Seven Articles and the supporting sections as ratified by the orginal signers of the U.S. Constitution and ratified by the original signers and sworn to be upheld by every U.S. Executive since the founding of the country. In addition we have the Bill of Rights as outlined in the first ten Ammendments to the Constitution as follows:

Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

...and even prior to that was the Declaration of Independence:

Preamble
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.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to 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.

Prudence indeed, will dictate, that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.


This present administration has deliberately choosen to ignore both the intent and the spirit of these documents.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. thanks.. and to reaffirm....That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deri

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to 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.

[leftofthedial]

7. the right to be sucked dry by capitalists

period

[Captain Hilts]

9. To see your NFL home team on television for free? nt

[jody]

10. 21st century inalienable rights same as 18th century iff We the People fight for them at the ballot

box hopefully and if not follow Lincolns advice, "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember it or overthrow it."