I think most people know of the Bill of Rights, and can even name one or two of them. Although, I’d bet most people would be hard pressed to put the requirements with the amendment number. Well, maybe the Second Amendment, since it gets a fair deal of play. Likely the Fifth Amendment would be relatively popular as well.
What does the Bill of Rights do? Who does it pertain to? Why do we need the Bill of Rights at all?
Anyone…. Bueller… Bueller… Bueller…
Nobody? That’s about what I expected, honestly. I didn’t know much about it until I started really paying attention and studying politics and the founding documents. It’s amazing the things you can learn just by doing a little studying.
The Bill of Rights limits the scope and power of the Federal Government. It pertains directly to the Federal Government, and what they are not allowed to do. It also specifically makes mention of the States a few times. We need it to clarify some things left out of the original Constitution. For instance, the First Amendment, most commonly known for Freedom of Speech (and sometimes wrongfully referenced for Separation of Church and State, which is nowhere in the Constitution or any Amendments), recognizes freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and stipulates that Congress can neither recognize an official religion nor prevent someone from practicing the religion of their choice. Notice, it does not say you can’t have the 10 Commandments on a plaque in a court house or any other such non-sense. It specifically tells Congress what it cannot do. It cannot censor you for non-violent speech or protest. Nor can it censor the press. Nor can it require or prevent you from practicing any religion.
The Bill of Rights is not a document granting you some rights you didn’t already have. It’s a document recognizing rights that are inherently in people, based on free will, and forbidding Congress from attempting to interfere with those rights.
Likewise, the other nine Amendments set forth in the Bill of Rights are not granting you any special power or privilege you didn’t have. They are all recognizing rights that are yours, and forbidding interference. In some places you’ll find mention of the States. In particular, the Tenth Amendment is my favorite. It calls out in detail that the powers of Congress and the Federal Government are limited to what is enumerated in the Constitution, and ONLY what is enumerated in the Constitution. It goes on to specify that any and all other powers that can be imagined are reserved specifically for the States or the people to decide for themselves.
A right cannot be granted. People are saying they have a right to medical care. Bull. A right doesn’t depend on someone else providing it for your. Saying you have a right to medical care is like saying you have a right to a small portion of another persons life (the doctors and nurses). That cannot be.
I have heard people saying they have a right to a job. I can’t even fathom how they arrived at that, but it fails for the same reason. Someone has to employ you, and you cannot claim you have a right to someone else’s time, money, or possessions. That’s foolish, at best.
My favorite is the right to vote. There is absolutely NO right to vote in a federal election. None. Nada. Zip. Nor should there be. If anything, we should be limiting the people who are allowed to vote. For one, if you’re living solely off the tax money of others, whether as a politician, welfare recipient, or government employee, you should not be allowed to vote for any positions that have any control over the money that is paid to you. To allow Federal Employees to vote for people who authorize budgets for Federal Departments is a conflict of interest. Why would they not vote for the person who promises them the most for the least amount of work? Short sighted self interest is what humanity does best.
Rights are inherent in you. They do not require action from another person or entity to make them rights. They do not require assistance from others to provide your right to you. You have the right to live, liberty, and property. You have a right to defend yourself. You do not have a right to get things for free, or to make others take care of some sort of need or desire for you. Your rights depend entirely on you.
They also need you to defend them. Stand up for yourself, and demand that you State stand up against Federal Tyranny on your behalf. Don’t vote for the person with the best lies. Vote for the person who knows what a right is. Pick wisely.
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