About Freedom Comments
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —
These words from the US Declaration of Independence formed the backdrop for my view of human rights and duties.. Based upon “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, I suggest the following list of “unalienable rights”:
life
liberty
religion
speech
shelter
property
freedom from hunger
access to health care
opportunity to raise their children
The pages of this site explain the above rights and agree with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the nations of the world proclaimed in 1948.
What happens when those rights are in conflict with other rights? Who will adjudicate the conflict? Such questions are the fodder for the Freedom Comments site.
My favorite professor once claimed that “every right begets a duty.” How do we decide where your right to life ends and my right to protect my property or family begins?
Other conflicts requiring adjudication:
Right to employment___vs___Right to profit
Right to shelter_______vs___Landlord rights
Freedom from hunger__vs___Right to protect property
Freedom of literacy____vs___Religious freedom
Freedom from slavery___vs___Rights to Property
Please join us in these pages in our attempt to clarify the human rights debate.
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Looking forward to many smart and hopefully some silly comments from the usual crowd.
Freibier start Sozialismus!
Prost, the Einsiedler
Welcome H. (Helmut). Happy to have you aboard. Just let me know if you want to write any leads. From where you sit you must surely see threats to freedom.
Thank you for joining us. I hope the “usual crowd” decide to join us.
I’m glad I can be a part of this at its inception. Like Helmut, I am looking forward to interesting dialogue.
I’m glad I could be a part of this at its inception, and like Helmut I look forward to an interesting exchange of ideas.
Boy, am I glad you are aboard. When I think about the threats to human rights and remember some of your reviews . . . . you can be of great help to focus on some of the problems. If you choose to write leads, let me know I I will upgrade you to author. Thanks Ed.
I know this is going to be an important forum for airing opinions and ideas — and for posting the occasional wackiness. Thanks for building us a playground, Wayne!
As the saying goes in sports . . . . Play ball! Thanks for joining NN. This will go as far as we support the idea.
Wayne, you are right, I don’t really know for how long I will be able to access this. Many blogs are blocked here. That should suffice as a first statement on the state of the nation.
I need to comment on my opening comment:
of course the correct wording would have been:
Freibier statt Sozialismus!
I was posting it with my new iPad, and the keypad is set on American English. The word ‘statt’ (=instead) was not recognised by he monolingual dunce. It became ‘start’.
I make this comment lest you think that I think that free beer leads to socialism!
Free beer leads to a beer belly, not to socialism!
(If anybody needs an explanation, let me know.)
H.
Have a look at GB’s newest review (and my comment under it). Other aspects of freedom or the lack of it.
H
Finally we can snip that tapeworm.
Great! You are here. Glad you made it. Feel free to make suggestions.
Wayne, I am not with you in some of the adjudication opposites on top of this page.
There is no right to property that would stand against right to freedom from slavery. Such a property right does not exist.
I do not understand why religious freedom stands against freedom of literacy.
Slavery was accepted by all world religions. There were lawsuits adjudicated under property rights to retain slaves. Schama’s Rough Crossing has good account of the abolition of slavery by the British courts. So these property rights have been slow in going away. Anti union laws, cynically called “Right to Work” in the US,suspension of due process under the equally cynical “Patriot Act”, and the death penalty are strong evidence of a resurgence of slavery by other means.
Ace, I am aware of that, but it hardly adds any legitimacy to property claims based on slavery. H
H.
I agree that there are not any legitimate claims to slavery, but a lot of powerful people see slaves as property. I hope to find some arguments that will expose such horrible views. They may not call it slavery, but their actions scream it (a rose by any other name . . .)
Well I am going to make this post to see if it actually works and to see if I am hitting all the correct buttons…all problematic in my case. I have not had time to explore this site end to end yet, but what I see so fare impresses me. Are you going to allow trolls to visit? I will miss the trolls if you do not…I sort of live to mull their comments over. Anyway, great site…it should be fun, educational and thought provoking…what more could you want?
don
Don,
Anyone can visit. However “trolls” can only comment, not write original posts (unless we decide to power up one of them – you know, for example, if they are will to write actual arguments with evidence)
The advantage I see on this site is power is on our side. No overlord Amazon deleting comments or erasing them because you use a word they do not like. In sum, this is our site. We set the rules.
Personally, I would like to see us explore what is happening to our freedom. How are our rights being harmed. But I see this as a site ruled by our group. So whatever.
He Whose Name is to be Blotted from History
Away from trigger happy Amazon, I can now reveal that the name of the professor whom they block from all reviews and comments is Dr. Emile Fackenheim. They even censored links to his books on their own website.
Leibnitz got the same treatment from the Jewish authorities, a la Galileo.
In Emile’s case it is a stupid computer’s fault. We can see that.
What’s wrong with Leibnitz? apart from the fact that the name has been misappropriated by a cooky brand?
Leibnitz was actually invoked in an old Jewish practice that I do not think has been used again in such a context. He was designated as “He whose name has been blotted from history.” They did not like his ideas.
Wayne, you need to attract some trolls! The disagreement level around here is far too low! H
Well, maybe if I post something disagreeable? No one yet is creating any posts. I did add a just for fun post, (with GWB) of all things – no takers. Maybe everyone is busy.
So, I will try.
Hi Wayne,
I am abusing this blog for a personal message. Can you send me an email? I can’t access the amazon thread and can’t find your email address. H.