Immature nonsense deserves nothing better than patronization since it cannot be taken seriously.
Governments from time immemorial have decided what citizens can do with their lives. That can never change since you have impact on what others can do with their lives. As long as you live in a society you will pay a portion of the costs of that society like it or not and there is no "rhetoric" in that it is a fact.
Pay as you go justice means that the rich and powerful would get away with anything they wish because the poor cannot afford the legal help the rich can. Thus, any rights you believe you have would soon go the way of the dodo should they come up against one who can hire lawyers by the gross. Maybe you haven't figured it out yet but this equalization of power is one of the principle reasons governments were established in the first place. And equality before the law was one of the principle aims of the Founders.
And you are mistaken as to the reason the Constitution was established. It was established to WEAKEN the powers of the States and to INCREASE the power of the federal government. A review of American history might clue you in here particularly of the events leading up to the Constitutional Convention.
Cain also claimed not to be his "brother's keeper" but his argument didn't go very far.
I never said anything about the powers of the states, I was talking about individual rights. I also never said anything about not paying to live in society. If it is my choice to voluntarily pay into some system then so be it. In fact, I would argue that it's in MY interest to do so. It is not up to you or some government official to decide what is of value to me.
I also made no claim whatsoever as to why the Constitution was established. I simply made the point that the document recognizes a priori rights, not grants them.
Cain's argument was correct. Just because you don't like it or "it didn't go very far" doesn't make it incorrect. I respect the man that has the guts to ask by what right another has over his life. The simple fact is that there is no right to such actions. So any action that usurps the rights of the individual is not only an illogical denial of reality, it is evil.
Do not dismiss my affection for individual rights as immature. I understand the reality very well that our current system imposes upon individuals. Those of us that pay quarterlies to the IRS are well aware of the pilfering of our personal property and the usurping of our liberty. It is not immature or un-serious to have the guts to call a spade a spade. It cannot be disputed that the use of physical force of some individual against another to pilfer their property (an extension of their life) is completely evil.
Those, like yourself, that believe societal priorities trump the rights of the individual are embracing a collectivist philosophy. To me, and other patriotic Americans, this is the evil that has wrecked our nation, and consider those that believe individual rights are secondary to any other arbitrarily conceived notion to be enemies of freedom.
For those who question that I might be a Libertarian or Anarchist, I am not. I am a Capitalist that believes that no other man has the right to initiate force or fraud on another man. I believe in freedom and its potential to bring out the best in men. I don't take the status quo for granted, and I also understand that change takes some time. We need a move by our government to again recognize that nothing trumps the rights of the individual. I do not accept this is "the way it is". I will not grin and bear it. I will fight it with as much energy and fervent diligence as I can muster.