Unalienableht
The writers of the Declaration of Independence believed it was self evident that “all men” had rights that were theirs that no government could take away. Their source was the creator of all in existence. To be sure, some were Christians, others Deists, and others of no particular religion, but they shared the idea that one way or another humans were created with unalienable rights. Not all could be named, but among them were the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The current majority on the Supreme Court has held that there are no unalienable rights but for those specifically granted by the Constitution. All other “rights” are mere privileges granted only at the pleasure of Congress as interpreted by the Court. They can be revoked at any time or for any reason. The Declaration of Independence is, after all, not part of the Constitution. It simply declares the ethical foundations for independence from Great Britain. It has no legal standing.
It’s true that the Fourteenth Amendment implies an unknown number of constitutional guaranteed rights, but they are only implied, not specifically mentioned, so the Court is free to reject any they disapprove of on whatever grounds they choose to disapprove.
We are, my friends, in dangerous territory. Our democracy is at risk. The remedy most urgently needed is a filibuster proof Congress that will protect our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in language with which no Court can find fault.
As the tortured Dobbs decision made plain. We are present at the birth (pun intended)of a theocracy of the court’s majority that will inevitably find that our thoughts (searching for websites about abortion?) will be criminalized. And that’s just for starters.