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"I believe there are rational arguments for them and I believe that the rational arguments for them are better than that against."

I half regretted my post once I had hit submit. Having read your home page (last paragraph specifically) I would wager that we are probably on the same page on many things political.

Hashing the differences between "rational argument" vs. "self evident nature" in the context of the DoI is more an exercise in coffee shop philosophy in that we agree on the conclusion regardless of the reasons why.

While to you and I and most importantly the writers of the DoI, "these rights" are self evident; the self evident nature of those rites have not been held to be true in many places at many times. Therein lies the failure of dogma. Dogma only persuades the the converted, it holds no sway on those who do no already agree with it's conclusion.

Dogma only persuades the the converted, it holds no sway on those who do no already agree with it's conclusion

I don't know.... Present the dogma convincingly and attractively enough and you get converts... I've it done both with regard to religion and politics. And it's not only the shouting preacher who gets the converts.... Sometimes it's the still, small voice of a poem.