[Schmedlap]

I can reasonably be accused of typographical, punctuation, or grammatical errors, but not of name-calling or similar “rhetorical tone.” I used the term “morons,” intentionally, because of its dictionary meaning. But, my point holds true, whether one agrees with the accuracy of the term or not. The opinions of civilized society, whether composed of morons or geniuses, are not an appropriate substitute for logical reasoning. I have yet to see anyone justify otherwise.

Reagan Man - I believe that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of rights, which you have demonstrated quite clearly throughout this thread. Case in point; you responded with “Baloney!” to the statement below:

“Law grants government the power, but that does not grant it the right. Rights are not granted; they are inalienable.”

You also responded by quoting the Declaration of Independence, but you clearly demonstrate that you do not understand it, when you advocate that government may grant itself the right to use coercion to regulate behavior beyond violation of individual rights. Government derives its power from the consent of the governed. That government has a power does not mean that it has a right.

We are the government – you and I. Neither of us can grant government a right that we do not possess, for the same reason that you or I cannot grant ourselves a right that we do not possess – that is the job of whatever higher power created us, not government. You seem to confuse the two. When government has the power to do something that is not within the bounds of its rights, it is simply usurping the power to violate rights.

Government does not derive rights from popular opinion and it cannot accumulate rights which the people themselves do not possess. Government can only rightly accumulate powers that are within the bounds of its rights. If you are engaging in a behavior that does not violate the rights of another individual, then I do not have the right to stop you from doing it, nor can I grant government the right to do this on my behalf. When government grants itself powers beyond the rights of the people, that falls into one of two categories: tyranny of the minority or tyranny of the majority. The difference between the two is the amount of public support behind the tyranny. The purpose of government is to ensure that the rights of the people are not violated. When government exerts power to violate the rights of a citizen, it defeats its own purpose for existence.

Please take notice that nowhere in the Declaration of Independence is there a phrase that reads “so long as the majority grants its arbitrary approval.” Were such a phrase inserted after “…pursuit of happiness;” then you would correct. But, no such phrase is present, and you are incorrect. We may pursue happiness so long as we do not violate the rights of one another. Neither you, nor I, nor our government has the right to use coercion to prevent such pursuit.

[M.K. Borders]

Just pick up almost any blog any day of the week and you'll find a fine example of some Illiberal Utopian Statist trying to impose his or her will through force on someone with whom he or she disagrees, rather to trying to convince anyone of the virtue of his argument.

From another post.

[Reagan Man]

Calling someone a moron, as in mentally retarded, stupid or foolish is a personal attack and isn't appropriate behavior in civilized public discourse. Using this crude approach, may gain you friends among the libertarian crowd, but in the real world, shows what a closed minded individual you really are. Just because the vast majority of conservative Americans disagree with your politics, is no reason to revert to namecalling. But since you advocate death to all politicians, I shouldn;t be surprised by these personal attacks from you. You're a real neanderthal.

As for your smug rhetoric and irrational opinions about my understanding of the Declaration of Independence, frankly I could care less. Fact is, either you didn't read what I wrote, or if you did read it, its clear your comprehension skills are sorely lacking.

Human beings aren't perfect people and in the real world, people make mistakes. A person can rail against the injustices of life from cradle to grave, or work through the political system to bring about real cahnge. Since the libertarian philosophy and Libertarian Party Platform has been such an utter failure, I guess railing against everything in life, is the only alternative you libertarians have left.