: : : D: No, there is nothing I would like to retract. I stand by my belief that capitalism is what has made the U.S. a propserous country. I also stand by my belief in the rights guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence.: : : Jim Hightower says "A person's opinion of a cattle-feed lot has a lot to do with where your standing and which way the wind is blowing." To that I'd add that cows would have a different point of view, too. In short, if you're materially comfortable and sufficiently shielded from other peoples' conditions and points of view--not to mention not worried about the future of the planet--then America would seem great. If, on the other hand, you don't have these advantages, or you were unlikely enough to be born Mexican in a border town like Brownsville or Nogales, then the benefits of capitalism might not seem so obvious.
I agree that my life would probably be a lot different, perhaps worse, were I to have been born in a town like Brownsville as a Mexican. However, many of the benefits of capitalism are taken for granted. For instance, I am sure that even if I did live in Brownsville I would still be able to buy asparagus or broccoli, even though it is not indiginous to that region. I am sure that I would probably own a car were I living in Brownsville. If I lived on a farm, it would probably be mechanized. These are all benefits of capitalism. Sure I probably wouldn't become in a billionaire (unless I were a genius with amazing self-discipline and a good idea) but chances are I would be happy in life.
: : The Declaration of Independence grants no rights nor does it have any legal status. The Constitution is the law of the land, and through history its application has been . . .er . . .inconsistent. To say the least
: : Yes, but rights are only as good as the people who defend them. As I pointed out before, there are many people who would like to see those rights cleanly done away with for their own benefit.
: Oh, I get it. You say the Declaration of Independence grants rights and I say no it doesn't, only the Constitution does.
No, for that last time, I am in COMPLETE agreement with your statement that the Declaration of Independence does not grant rights.
:But you quickly turn around and whip out a proverb which sounds like it comes from a Boy Scout manual.
Would you prefer if I quoted Marx or Engels? How about Lenin?
:There's nothing I can do with that. But your last sentence, "there are many people who would like to see those rights cleanly done away with for their own benefit."
: Are you gearing up for a discussion of the Second Amendment?
No I am not. I would be happy to discuss my views on the matter with you, however.
None.
