[MNJohnnie]

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.

If you seek core principals, look to the US Constitution. I suggest the 1st and 2nd Amendments in particular. See anything in there that looks a little violated by the current political class?

[B Knotts]

Indeed. My point here is just that those Amendments do not exist in a vacuum, but are an outgrowth of the principle that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain Rights.

And, yes, the political class has strayed far from those principles.