[Talisker]

The Doctrine of Negative Rights is described in the passage referencing government, so it doesn’t matter whether it was a period or not. The American government derives it’s powers from the People, and not the other way around.

End of subject.

[FredZarguna]

Correct, and not only that, but whether the period is there or not, the purpose of government, which is to secure rights already granted to the people by Extratemporal Authority, does not change. In particular, the government has a mandate to secure the right to pursue happiness but has no authority to secure a right to happiness itself.