The right to equity under the law –

It is reasonable and equitable for all humans to grant all other humans the right to equity under the law. If we are to leave theology out of the equation, then it should be considered entirely reasonable for all individual members of the human species to grant all other individual members of the human species the right to equal standing under whatever laws are established for the governance of the people and for the protection of fundamental rights.

Nobody should get special treatment under the law such that it would infringe upon the fundamental rights of others. Nobody should ever be considered above the law. And nobody should be treated as inferior, or less deserving, under the law, regarding the protection of their fundamental rights.

Furthermore, it needs to be given the highest priority in asserting that those in government are those who need to be governed and restricted the most. Historically, those in government are given the most latitude, the most privileges, and the greatest leniency in violating the laws and violating the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. Again and again, it seems to be the consistent practice of government officials to perpetrate abuse. Above all, this needs to stop.

The right to life –

If all human life is to be treated as equal, with equal protection under the law, then it is reasonable, equitable, and just for all human beings to be allowed the right to life. Specifically, all humans, as equals under the law, should be able to live and let live, without fear of violence or death perpetrated by other humans. Additionally, the right to act in self-defense, in defense of one’s life, the lives of one’s family and community, one’s property, and in defense of all fundamental rights, is a just and reasonable accommodation by all humanity, for all humanity.

Anything less is savage and barbaric. A civilized society holds as inviolate the fundamental rights of equality under the law, the right to life, and all other fundamental rights that are necessary and reasonable appendages thereto. Members of uncivilized, savage, and barbaric societies murder, steal, lie, cheat, adulterate, and make slaves of one another. These things are not simply matters of fundamental rights, they are prerequisites for all civilized societies, as well as all moral decency.

The right to liberty –

As equals under the law, all humans must be given equal latitude to be free to think, speak, act, to come and to go, to relocate, and to conduct their lives as they choose, as long as these freedoms and actions do not infringe upon the fundamental rights of others. This concept is merely a secular restatement of the law of agency which asserts each individual’s right to self-determination. As with the right to life, this is a just and reasonable accommodation by all humanity, for all humanity.

The right to property –

One cannot be secure in one’s right to life and right to liberty without also granting the right to all humans to own and control personal property. It requires the ownership of personal property to reliably nourish, shelter, and provide for oneself and family the necessities of life. Additionally, the principles and laws of justice stipulate that what a person earns and owns belongs to him or her by right and cannot be taken away involuntarily. You have a right to the fruits of your labors, to property which has been legally and fairly acquired, or has been lawfully gifted to you. This is just and fair. Anything less would be a violation of one’s rights to life, liberty, and property.

The right to justice –

Justice implies the existence of a moral code that protects fundamental rights and puts boundaries on behavior. Justice requires equitable consequences. It requires a need for fairness, an enforcement of fairness, or a return to fairness when and where fairness is compromised. Fairness, in this case, refers to equity under the law, not an equality in outcomes or possessions.

Fairness requires equity in consequences. The laws of justice require equity in consequences, in fulfillment of all applicable laws and all moral truth. Life is not fair, but in Christ and in fulfillment of His laws of justice, all things become equitable in accordance with His fullness of truth. Justice requires the eventual resolution of all truth.

For purposes of establishing secular justice, we must establish a common denominator of fundamental rights. Recognizing and establishing a code of agreed-upon fundamental rights is essential in establishing an acceptable degree of justice in the form of civil protections under the law.

In order to establish justice, it becomes incumbent upon communities and nations to form governments for the protection of fundamental rights, for the healthy growth and edification of communities, and to establish justice throughout the land. Hence, the right to justice includes the right of the people to form governments, as agreed upon by the majority, for the protection of fundamental rights, to establish justice, and to promote prosperity, security, and domestic tranquility for all.

Without a just and equitable government, there can be no reliable protection of fundamental rights. Therefore, the right to justice lends to all mankind the right to form just governments and to remove unjust governments when abuses become intolerable and otherwise uncorrectable.

The right to equitable and just judgement –

When civil governments are formed for the reasons previously stated, it becomes incumbent upon rulers, judges, and legislators to act justly. They must execute laws, pass legislation, and judge individuals and issues wisely and with appropriate equity, protecting the fundamental rights of everyone. When governments fail to do this, it is the right of the people to either replace those government officers, or to amend their laws, or to institute new government, as is appropriate for the protection of their fundamental rights.

The right of individuals and families to be sovereign in their affairs –

As equals, individuals and families have the right to conduct their affairs as they see fit, as long as the safety, security, and rights of all those concerned are protected. Any infringement upon individual and familial sovereignty should be the absolute last step and last resort, only to be taken in the face of clear and present danger to those too weak or vulnerable to protect themselves.

Fathers and mothers should have the final responsibility and authority for their families. If an immediate threat to safety exists then government officials should step in, preferably in a coordinated effort with extended family members and close friends. This is a very tricky issue and I do not pretend to have the wisdom to offer a clear-cut definitive polity. I will not pretend otherwise.

Protections, Exceptions, and Limitations –

There are always exceptions and limitations to the rules. For example, when one person’s actions infringe upon the rights of others, then those actions and the freedom to commit those actions must be legally limited, punished, and fair restitution offered. Otherwise, the fundamental rights and freedoms of others cannot be protected and upheld.

If someone verbally or violently threatens the lives or safety of others, then that person’s rights must be curtailed to the degree necessary to neutralize such threats. You forfeit your rights requisite with the degree you threaten the rights of others. Particularly, those whose lives are threatened must be allowed to protect themselves with deadly force, if necessary, otherwise, their rights to life and liberty are violated and infringed.

When people commit crimes against others, infringing upon the rights of others, then those criminals need to be arrested, imprisoned, provide restitution (if possible), and suffer the just judgements and consequences for the crimes they have committed.

As a caution, we saw during the Covid years (2020-2022) how the Covid scare tactics of the powers-that-be were used to rationalize the violation of numerous Constitutionally protected fundamental rights. I am therefore very much against using unsubstantiated medical fears to rationalize the suppression of fundamental rights. Governments should issue cautionary advisories to the public, but governments should never be locking up, locking down, or shutting down people or businesses in these cases. Medical tyranny can be so easily rationalized and justified in so many ways and at so many levels.

Government actions that violate the fundamental rights of the citizenry should be defined as treason and those responsible should be tried for treason and punished accordingly.

Exceptions and limitations of fundamental rights need to be regulated at the local or municipal level. Especially, in cases where public health and safety are concerned. The reason for this is that local government officials are far more easily held accountable for missteps and abuses of authority. Local elected officials should have executive authority in taking reasonable measures to protect public health and safety. But there need to be checks and balances in place in the forms of judges and councils with authority to countermand unwise or abusive executive actions.

There are some questions as to the justice and legality of certain government practices that seem very necessary but that most definitely violate the fundamental rights of citizens. One is the practice of eminent domain, which is the practice of seizing personal property to be used for needed public projects. In some cases, this definitely seems necessary, but I would suggest that in such cases, those whose property is taken should be compensated sevenfold for the market value of the property taken. The same with requiring persons to serve on juries. In such instances, these individuals should be compensated, perhaps three-fold for their time in public service. Might never makes right; so, if government might is used at the detriment of fundamental rights, exponential compensation would seem very appropriate.

Much more could and should be said on this subject, but I think I have adequately made clear the principles pertaining to exceptions and limitations that should be in place to protect the fundamental rights and liberties of man.

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