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In geopolitical terms, every country is an enemy (in the sense that I believe parent used it) precisely because every country is autonomous.

"It" may decide on courses of action that are in its best interests but detrimental to others, even if it has no history of that behavior.

Same reason the US had war plans targeting essentially the entire world in the interwar years -- you never know.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_color-coded_wa...




War Plan White means your own citizens are also considered enemies, which means you also need to spy on them.


Indeed! But that's where Constitutional protections come in, and why the Bill of Rights was added.


The Bill of Rights only codified natural rights that exist for all. It is not a grant of rights given by the government.

The Bill of Rights is a statement from the people to the government. "These are some of our rights and you will respect them."


There are no natural rights absent power to enforce them.

One could say there are natural desires, or natural ethics/morals, but these have no weight without a granting and enforcing entity.

E.g. "my personal right to not pay taxes"

At its heart, the Constitution and Bill of Rights are a formal trade between the people and the proposed government, each of whom start with some power.

People: "We will give you legitimacy and support, if you give us these rights."

Government: "We agree to give you those rights, in return for your legitimacy and support."

The people and the government can believe they have other rights (e.g. a right to privacy), but until they're codified and agreed to by the government they don't exist.

Hence why it usually takes revolution, civil disobedience, or riots to force a government to grant (natural) rights it doesn't want to.


> "my personal right to not pay taxes"

That's a strange negative. How about, my personal right to control my body (without harming others including not stealing from others).

I do not have a right to steal from you. Goverment is granted some authorities from the people to the government. People can't grant to others what they don't have (like a non-existent right to steal). Therefore, government does not have a right to steal from you or me.

If you want to enter into a commercial agreement with government for some purpose then sign whatever forms and contacts you desire. For me, taking the fruits of my personal labor is theft.


This is contrary to Enlightenment philosophy, that influenced the Founders, that reasoned that the rights of man exist outside of government. Yes, the US government was established to protect those rights. But, individuals can protect their own rights as well absent government.


That's muddling hypothetical rights with de facto rights.

Which was the same argument that lead (rightly, IMHO) to their enumeration in the Bill of Rights, in contrast to the unenumerated British system.

Individuals protecting "their" un-enumerated rights risk the violent wrath of the state, or are able to do so only because the state chooses to ignore them.


You are free to believe that as all your shit gets taken without anyone to enforce rights.

How is an individual supposed to protect their own rights?


Anybody that tries to take my shit better be prepared to have some new holes.




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