The Global Market
29-12-2003, 21:15
UN Resolution Proposed (give me advice):
Freedom is not empowerment. Empowerment is what the Serbs have in Bosnia. Anybody can grab a gun and be empowered. It’s not entitlement. An entitlement is what people on welfare get, and how free are they? It’s not an endlessly expanding list of rights—the “right” to education, the “right” to health care, the “right” to food and housing. That’s not freedom, that’s dependency. Those aren’t rights; those are the rations of slavery—hay and a barn for human cattle.
There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.
To that effect, for the purpose of securing liberty to the people of the world, these following rights ought to be secured for all lawabiding people:
The right to nonviolently associate, and also the right not to associate at all. If I want you in my house, I have the right to invite you to it. If I don't want you in my house, there's no reason I should be forced to let you in.
The right to nonviolently express ideas, and also the right not to express ideas at all. The real United Nations has already made this clear: "The free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny... Beware of he who would seek to control your information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
The right to due process. Any government that punishes people without first proving them guilty under the law [except when absolutely necessary] is properly called a tyranny. This also means the right to seek legal redress against wrongs, to appeal, to sue and be sued, etc., etc.
The right to emigrate, and, by the same logic, the right not to be deported. Individuals are sovereign over themselves and their property. Hence, they have the right to move around when they please.
The right to nonviolently contract with other individuals. This is perhaps the keystone right on which all other rights depend. Competent individuals must be allowed to create and to execute legally binding contracts with other competent individuals so long as no coercion or fraud is involved. This is the basis for all of civil society, the biggest step forward in human interaction since the broadsword.
This leads to the right to waive your rights through contract. If an employer and a worker sign a contract that guarentees the worker two years' work, the employer voluntarily gives away his freedom of association for that period of time as he is contractually bound to associate with the worker (unless the worker also violates part of the contract). Likewise, if you buy music with the contract that you will not copy it, you waive your right to free expression in copying.
Freedom is not empowerment. Empowerment is what the Serbs have in Bosnia. Anybody can grab a gun and be empowered. It’s not entitlement. An entitlement is what people on welfare get, and how free are they? It’s not an endlessly expanding list of rights—the “right” to education, the “right” to health care, the “right” to food and housing. That’s not freedom, that’s dependency. Those aren’t rights; those are the rations of slavery—hay and a barn for human cattle.
There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.
To that effect, for the purpose of securing liberty to the people of the world, these following rights ought to be secured for all lawabiding people:
The right to nonviolently associate, and also the right not to associate at all. If I want you in my house, I have the right to invite you to it. If I don't want you in my house, there's no reason I should be forced to let you in.
The right to nonviolently express ideas, and also the right not to express ideas at all. The real United Nations has already made this clear: "The free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny... Beware of he who would seek to control your information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
The right to due process. Any government that punishes people without first proving them guilty under the law [except when absolutely necessary] is properly called a tyranny. This also means the right to seek legal redress against wrongs, to appeal, to sue and be sued, etc., etc.
The right to emigrate, and, by the same logic, the right not to be deported. Individuals are sovereign over themselves and their property. Hence, they have the right to move around when they please.
The right to nonviolently contract with other individuals. This is perhaps the keystone right on which all other rights depend. Competent individuals must be allowed to create and to execute legally binding contracts with other competent individuals so long as no coercion or fraud is involved. This is the basis for all of civil society, the biggest step forward in human interaction since the broadsword.
This leads to the right to waive your rights through contract. If an employer and a worker sign a contract that guarentees the worker two years' work, the employer voluntarily gives away his freedom of association for that period of time as he is contractually bound to associate with the worker (unless the worker also violates part of the contract). Likewise, if you buy music with the contract that you will not copy it, you waive your right to free expression in copying.