Re: Clipper Death Threat

-->> Actually, voting is not a "right" as such.  It can be revoked by the
 -->> government, and is revoked for all convicted felons.
 -->
 -->Does this mean your right to freedom of speech is not a "right," since
 -->the government can limit the free speech of convicted felons? The
 -->government is even more restrictive of the 4th Amendment rights
 -->of convicted felons, so are you saying that the 4th Amendment is not
 -->a "right as such"?
 -->

Good question... what exactly is a "right"?  To me, a right is something 
that cannot be removed from any citizen.  I would like to see privacy as a 
right.  However, at what point do you draw the line?  When does privacy 
interfere with someone else's rights?

Freedom of speech has never been a right.  A lot of people think it is.  But 
go out on a street corner and try to incite a riot.  See what happens.  Or 
threaten someone.  Or commit treason.  Speech is not a right.

I don't pretend to have all the answers.  But I see a lot of folks very 
mis-informed about the difference between a right and a benefit of 
citizenship.


               lyled@pentagon-emh9.army.mil

David Lyle:

> Good question... what exactly is a "right"?  To me, a right is something 
> that cannot be removed from any citizen.

In that case, we don't have any rights. 

> I would like to see privacy as a 
> right.  However, at what point do you draw the line?  When does privacy 
> interfere with someone else's rights?

Try reading the cases.

> Freedom of speech has never been a right.  A lot of people think it is.  But 
> go out on a street corner and try to incite a riot.  See what happens.  Or 
> threaten someone.  Or commit treason.  Speech is not a right.

You are defining "right" differently from the way it is defined in the
Constitution and elsewhere.

Now that I understand you to be using the word in a special, personal way,
I see no need to discuss it further on this list or elsewhere.


--Mike