------
Republican vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, states our rights are from nature and God, not from government. (No, the Declaration of Independence states this. Mr. Ryan simply quoted no less than our founding document)
That may be the case in a perfect world, but this world isn’t perfect. (No one is claiming that the world is perfect. And especially, the Founders weren't talking about a perfect world. They were reacting to oppressive government by establishing eternal truths about the nature of man and why it was just to revolt against the Crown)
As usual nothing is as simple as politicians claim. (Politicians or not, Mr. Ryan's statement was an accurate quote of the quintessential founding principle of this country) A few examples will make my point as we look at the:
That may be the case in a perfect world, but this world isn’t perfect. (No one is claiming that the world is perfect. And especially, the Founders weren't talking about a perfect world. They were reacting to oppressive government by establishing eternal truths about the nature of man and why it was just to revolt against the Crown)
As usual nothing is as simple as politicians claim. (Politicians or not, Mr. Ryan's statement was an accurate quote of the quintessential founding principle of this country) A few examples will make my point as we look at the:
Native Americans losing their rights to their own land, even to speak their own language
Indigenous Africans brought over on slave ships and sold into slavery. (Mr. Nagel is proving the case against him. These first two items are examples of government oppressing people and abrogating their rights. The Declaration was written to expressly to deny that government has the power to take away unalienable rights. The fact that our very government sanctioned these very acts points to the truth of the founders' statements, their desire to throw off oppression, and the moral justification to establish a new nation. Mr. Ryan's quote reinforces all of that, in opposition to those today who wish to grow the power of government)
American children working as slave labor in unsafe working conditions. (Again, the existence of oppression and injustice bolsters the founders' claims of rights having been endowed by our creator. Recognizing a truth does not magically eliminate violations of that truth. A stop sign does not prevent people from not stopping. This ought to be a fairly basic concept for someone to grasp)
I could go on and on as there are countless examples in our nation’s and world’s history. (Which is precisely why the founders rejected the idea that government was the source of rights, since it is government that is so proficient at violating them. The founders knew the danger of power, which is why they acknowledged the inherent dignity of all men and denied government the power to violate it)
The problem with his claim is it relates to a perfect world. But in this world we are free only until man or governments run by evil men take it away. (Which is exactly what Mr. Ryan was saying, and what the founders asserted)
It has been so since biblical times. Good governments restore those rights. (And bad governments violate them. But actually, good government doesn't really restore rights. It secures them [makes them safe]. Rights are not removed, separated or eliminated, because they are unalienable. which means they can only be violated. Government either violates rights or it secures them. It does not restore them)
Our government proclaims “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence. (Well, did he just discover this? Then why did he write his letter? But again, he needs correction. When the Declaration was written, there was no government, so the government couldn't proclaim anything. The founders, acting as liberators, joined together in rebellion against injustice and enumerated the basic concepts of liberty.)
I would much rather live in a country where our government tries to restore rights, rather than the alternative. Mr. Ryan should reeducate himself. If he wants to be vice president, he’d better understand why our government exists. (Mr. Ryan simply quoted the Declaration, which Mr. Nagel just did himself. Is this evidence that Mr. Nagel needs reeducation? One wonders if Mr. Nagel might be reacting to something else Mr. Ryan said. If not, then it is pretty clear that it is Mr. Nagel that needs reeducation, because he doesn't seem to understand some basic concepts about the nature of man and the founding of the country.)
American children working as slave labor in unsafe working conditions. (Again, the existence of oppression and injustice bolsters the founders' claims of rights having been endowed by our creator. Recognizing a truth does not magically eliminate violations of that truth. A stop sign does not prevent people from not stopping. This ought to be a fairly basic concept for someone to grasp)
I could go on and on as there are countless examples in our nation’s and world’s history. (Which is precisely why the founders rejected the idea that government was the source of rights, since it is government that is so proficient at violating them. The founders knew the danger of power, which is why they acknowledged the inherent dignity of all men and denied government the power to violate it)
The problem with his claim is it relates to a perfect world. But in this world we are free only until man or governments run by evil men take it away. (Which is exactly what Mr. Ryan was saying, and what the founders asserted)
It has been so since biblical times. Good governments restore those rights. (And bad governments violate them. But actually, good government doesn't really restore rights. It secures them [makes them safe]. Rights are not removed, separated or eliminated, because they are unalienable. which means they can only be violated. Government either violates rights or it secures them. It does not restore them)
Our government proclaims “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence. (Well, did he just discover this? Then why did he write his letter? But again, he needs correction. When the Declaration was written, there was no government, so the government couldn't proclaim anything. The founders, acting as liberators, joined together in rebellion against injustice and enumerated the basic concepts of liberty.)
I would much rather live in a country where our government tries to restore rights, rather than the alternative. Mr. Ryan should reeducate himself. If he wants to be vice president, he’d better understand why our government exists. (Mr. Ryan simply quoted the Declaration, which Mr. Nagel just did himself. Is this evidence that Mr. Nagel needs reeducation? One wonders if Mr. Nagel might be reacting to something else Mr. Ryan said. If not, then it is pretty clear that it is Mr. Nagel that needs reeducation, because he doesn't seem to understand some basic concepts about the nature of man and the founding of the country.)
No comments:
Post a Comment