Dead to rights


Why I don't support group rights
I am a Pagan, you may have noticed. Especially with this blog's title.

I bring it up because every so often I get about a dozen emails asking why I don't address more Pagan issues. More specifically, why I don't react to the abuses against "Pagan rights" that are happening here in America. My problem is with that phrase "Pagan rights."

There's no such thing.

Just as there is no such thing as "women's rights." Or "black rights." Or "gay rights." Or "Native American rights."

Or even "men's rights."

There is only one group identity that gives rights. That is humanity.

You don't have rights because you are Pagan, or have darker skin, or other sexual preferences, or a different cultural background. Or even because you wear a silly hat.

You have rights because you are human. Those are the only rights I am interested in defending because those are the only rights I am sure I deserve.

If someone tried to prevent your rights to choose how to live your life, then we have a problem and I will write about it.

If someone tried to prevent you from collecting some entitlement or special privilege because of a specialized group identity that you claim, then we have another problem. I may still write about it, but you won't like the direction I will take.

If the "rights" you claim place an additional burden on others without their choice, then I will waste no time denouncing you.

And that brings us to the flip side.

There are no rights without responsibilities.

You want the right to vote? Then you have to defend everyone's right to vote.

You want to right to speak and be heard? Then you must defend everyone's right to speech.

Each freedom you claim for yourself must be shared with everyone else, or it is not freedom.

And then we get into the implied responsibilities.

Just because you have the right to free speech doesn't mean that everyone has to listen to you. That obligation would take away their choice and their freedom.

Just because you have the right to vote doesn't mean that the candidate you chose will get elected.

And that brings us to the third level of implied rights and responsibilities. The one that the statists want you to overlook.

It can be summed up in one sentence. If you don't want the government to screw you, make sure they can't screw anyone.

Pretty simple, isn't it? But it is probably the most ignored idea in politics today.

Don't like the Faith Based Initiative? Then you can't have government social engineering.

Don't like prayer in public schools? Then you can't have public schools.

See how it works?

Every law, every government regulation, every ruling, every government action costs freedom. And in most cases, the tradeoff is not worth it.

Take the income tax, and I really wish you would.

It was originally designed so the "rich" would pay their "fair share." Notice that those words are very relative terms and the meaning has changed drastically. Over time, those best intentions have evolved into a financial surveillance system that tyrants all over the world would give their teeth, all their toes, and at least one arm each to control. What's more, it's accepted as a cost of freedom. Think about that for just a moment. Your bank is required to report nearly every financial transaction, but that is a cost of freedom. Money is taken from your paycheck without you ever seeing it, but that is a cost of freedom. The rules of evidence don't apply to the tax system, but that is a cost of freedom. With so many costs, do we have any freedom left?

When your freedom costs someone else their freedom, it is not freedom.

You have rights because you are human, not because you belong to some subgroup. No one can promise you anything except opportunity. The rest is up to you.

Guess I did get an opinion piece up today.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Sun - May 20, 2007 at 03:39 PM  Tag


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