@Dr Canuckit depends on the frame of the discussion. are we talking idealist, are we talking pragmatic, are we talking legally or are we talking about how it really works
with respect to rights, there are inalienable rights that come from our creator (they are birthright passed down from our parents, NOT the great spaghetti monster in the sky), there are defined rights, like the right to bear arms which seem to be granted by SOME governments.
There is a specific difference between rights GRANTED by governments and rights NOT TAKEN by governments. For example, george bush took away inalienable rights with his patriot act – such as the right to peacably assemble. The supremes took away the inalienable right to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded theater that is not on fire.
and finally let’s remember the USA is an experiment in inalienable rights. other countries that HAVE a sovereign, like amsterdam and england (and i believe canada) derive their social contract and legitimacy from the devine rights of kings, and therefore all of the rights of the people are granted by those governments.
so as i said, the constitution only extends and was only intended to extend within the territories of the USA. People outside our borders DO NOT HAVE constitutional rights.
@Dr Canuckit depends on the frame of the discussion. are we talking idealist, are we talking pragmatic, are we talking legally or are we talking about how it really works
with respect to rights, there are inalienable rights that come from our creator (they are birthright passed down from our parents, NOT the great spaghetti monster in the sky), there are defined rights, like the right to bear arms which seem to be granted by SOME governments.
There is a specific difference between rights GRANTED by governments and rights NOT TAKEN by governments. For example, george bush took away inalienable rights with his patriot act – such as the right to peacably assemble. The supremes took away the inalienable right to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded theater that is not on fire.
and finally let’s remember the USA is an experiment in inalienable rights. other countries that HAVE a sovereign, like amsterdam and england (and i believe canada) derive their social contract and legitimacy from the devine rights of kings, and therefore all of the rights of the people are granted by those governments.
so as i said, the constitution only extends and was only intended to extend within the territories of the USA. People outside our borders DO NOT HAVE constitutional rights.