What constitutes an essential liberty?

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In summary, the liberties that should not be sacrificed for security are those that are limited by other rights, such as the right to vote, the right to put in your body what you want, and the right to hurt people without infringing upon the liberty of others.
  • #1
ptabor
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What are those liberties that should not be sacrificed for security?

Looking at it historically, these rights have changed over time.

For example, slave ownership was once considered a right. Indeed, many of the landowning white males that drafted our Constitution were slave owners.

The right to vote - of course the right to vote was limited for quite some time - being the exclusive club of the white male. It is also limited today, felons for example.

The right to put in your body what you want - limited by prohibition (repealed ) and the controlled substances act (atrocity) - although tobacco is still legal (hypocricy).

Thoughts?
 
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  • #2
What constitutes ""life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is a far better question, that is what has been agreed that we all are entitled to.
 
  • #3
ptabor said:
What are those liberties that should not be sacrificed for security?

Looking at it historically, these rights have changed over time.

For example, slave ownership was once considered a right. Indeed, many of the landowning white males that drafted our Constitution were slave owners.

The right to vote - of course the right to vote was limited for quite some time - being the exclusive club of the white male. It is also limited today, felons for example.

The right to put in your body what you want - limited by prohibition (repealed ) and the controlled substances act (atrocity) - although tobacco is still legal (hypocricy).

Thoughts?

The questions you are asking with regards to essential liberties are rooted in the beliefs of John Locke (and his counter-arguements to Hobbe's perspective)

As for slave ownership, rest assured that it was not included in the original drafts. The opposition were very much excluded from the Virginia Convention by a few powerful persons.

The restriction of substances is related strictly to control and believe it or not surveillance (numerous histories on the subject are available).
 
  • #4
ptabor said:
What are those liberties that should not be sacrificed for security?
No liberty should be sacrificed, as long as it does not infringe upon the liberty of others.

slave ownership was once considered a right. Indeed, many of the landowning white males that drafted our Constitution were slave owners.
That's because they didn't think slaves were part of mankind. They didn't think women or children were part of it either.

The right to vote - of course the right to vote was limited for quite some time - being the exclusive club of the white male. It is also limited today, felons for example.
And people under the age of 18. That's a lot of people we group together with felons, isn't it? We send all young people to prison, too, just like felons.
 
  • #5
Why not just the liberty to do whatever you want aslong as it hurts no one besides yourself. That seems to be the simplest way to include everything essential without leaving out anything important?
 
  • #6
ptabor said:
What are those liberties that should not be sacrificed for security?
All rights have limits, though not necessarily because of the need for security. Azael provided the most straightforward test to determine those limits.
 
  • #7
Azael said:
Why not just the liberty to do whatever you want aslong as it hurts no one besides yourself. That seems to be the simplest way to include everything essential without leaving out anything important?
I am pretty sure that is what we are supposed to be working towards.
 
  • #8
No, in the general sense, hurting people is a liberty that should be protected.

People should be free to leave long term relationships, even though it will hurt the partner. Businesses should be free to steal marketshare from their competitors, even though it will eventually hurt their competitor's employees financially. Children should be able to choose careers they want, even though it will hurt their parents.

Hurting people should be allowed as long as it does not infringe upon the liberty of others. Hurt is something all people have to live with responsibly in order to safeguard liberty.
 
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  • #9
That's what Azael meant by: "hurting people", Mickey (infringing on their rights). Yeah, the wording could have been better.
 
  • #10
russ_watters said:
That's what Azael meant by: "hurting people", Mickey (infringing on their rights). Yeah, the wording could have been better.

thanks for clearing that up because that is exactly what I meant :approve:

When it comes to personal rights I am 100% libertarian...
 
  • #11
Oh, okay. :smile:
 

1. What is the definition of essential liberty?

Essential liberty can be defined as the basic rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. These rights are considered essential because they are necessary for a person to live a free and dignified life.

2. Who determines what constitutes an essential liberty?

The determination of what constitutes an essential liberty is typically made by the government of a country. In democratic societies, this may involve the input of citizens through a constitution or bill of rights. In other forms of government, the ruling party or leader may have the power to define essential liberties.

3. Are essential liberties absolute?

No, essential liberties are not absolute. While they are considered fundamental and necessary for individual rights and freedoms, they can be limited in certain circumstances. For example, the right to freedom of speech may be limited in cases of hate speech or inciting violence.

4. How do essential liberties differ from civil liberties?

Essential liberties and civil liberties are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Essential liberties refer to the most basic and fundamental rights that are necessary for a person to live a free and dignified life. Civil liberties, on the other hand, encompass a broader range of rights and freedoms, including political and social rights.

5. Can essential liberties be taken away?

In some cases, essential liberties can be temporarily suspended or restricted, such as during times of war or national emergency. However, in democratic societies, these restrictions are typically only allowed if they are deemed necessary and proportionate to protect the safety and well-being of the public.

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