merlinofchaos: (Default)
merlinofchaos ([personal profile] merlinofchaos) wrote2003-05-05 01:49 pm

Words to Live By

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Re: Ben's not here to answer that...

[identity profile] tersa.livejournal.com 2003-05-05 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course, the real irony about it all is that the Founding Fathers themselves were surprised at the need to make a Bill of Rights. Many of them shared Hamilton's opinion, to a point, of thinking it was "Like, duh", and didn't need it written down.

I wonder if anyone has done an in-depth analysis of the help and harm those first ten amendments have had on the shape of our country as it is today, theoretically speaking.

Re: Ben's not here to answer that...

[identity profile] jakeaidan.livejournal.com 2003-05-05 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I think there is something to be said for making a system where everything is allowed except that which is specifically excluded. Otherwise, when you run into a grey area...there's subjectivity.
People yell about their rights a great deal, but what it really boils down to is what are you NOT allowed to do.
For instance...I have "Freedom of Speech"....but I don't really...because laws have been passed limiting my freedom of speech. I can't make a sexist joke at the workplace. There is a law forbidding it. So, really, what does the "Freedom of Speech" give me. It gives me the freedom to speak, save where it is in violation of the law. If I wasn't given that right...I'd still have the freedom to speak, except where violated by law.