[spunkets]

"There are all sorts of limits to free speech (disparaging American currency...saying the coinage is toxic or disparaging the beef industry to take two examples)."

You are mistaking speech, with it's communication of concepts, ideas, truths and expresion, with slander and fraud. Speech is a right. Slander and fraud are violations of rights. Govm'ts only justification is to protect rights. The 1st Amend protects speech, not slander and fraud.

"There are no absolute rights."

Sure their are. Here's a short listing: Life and the individual sovereignty of will that derive from it, self defense and the right to mount an effective defense, (see free speech and the 2nd Amend.) The right to religeous freedom, including expression and exercise thereof.

[Borges]

If you commit a crime heinous enough the government can take away your life as well as all the other rights that derive from being alive. By 'absolute' I mean not subject to government usurpation no matter what. We are born with rights which we keep by means of a social contract.

[ReignOfError]

"There are no absolute rights."

Sure their are. Here's a short listing: Life and the individual sovereignty of will that derive from it,

If you're convicted of a capital crime, the state can take your life. Hence that right is not absolute.

The right to religeous freedom, including expression and exercise thereof.

If your religion calls for human sacrifice, you can't carry out that part of your faith. That right has limits. Ergo not absolute.