We hold these truths to be self-evident

[NJmaverick]

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

So when did this great nation devolve to the point where people's rights are voted upon? (I'm looking at you Maine and California)

You refuse to grant gays the right to marry, what's next?

Do we vote to see if blonds should be allowed to drive? How about a vote to see if tall people are allowed to go to the movies? Maybe another to see if senior citizens should be allowed in shopping malls.

RIGHTS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT ARE VOTED ON OR SUBJECT TO POPULARITY CONTESTS!

[Buzz Clik]

1. "So when did this great nation devolve to the point where people's rights are voted upon?" Forever?

It's kinda the way we determine these rights, with a little help from the Supreme Court.

[NJmaverick]

2. The Supreme Court has done more to protect people's rights

than the voters, Congress and the President put together.

[Buzz Clik]

4. Right, but they don't initiate, they only respond.

[NJmaverick]

8. True

but they have historically been the only ones that protected the rights of minorities from the oppressive majorities. Democracy is just about letting everyone have a say. The Bill of rights and the concept of civil liberties is where all the good from our nation springs.

[Better Today]

7. I agree they played a great part, but in the end if they were the end of it or the most of it,

why do we have amendments to the Constitution that ultimately made it the law of the land? I think it is a back and forth, granted the final push is usually in response to a USSC decision.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Some would argue

that the Declaration of Independence is not the laws that this country is based on. They would say you need to go to the Constitution to find the means of governing this country.

[NJmaverick]

5. It's the basis of our nation, which is pretty important in my opinion

[Better Today]

6. Welcome to the reality of politics, rhetoric and reality have always

been two entirely different things, even back on day one of the good ol' USofA.

The Declaration of Independence was rhetoric.

The Constitution was reality. AND let's not pretend we actually want to enforce it as it was written either. Slavery allowed, "men" really meant men, not women, ..........

As an older woman, I still don't see equal rights, equal consideration, equal opportunity, or equal pay. Blacks don't yet either. Latinos, please. It's not okay, but you all aren't the only ones who are not equal to white men in our country.

I am truly sorry you all are not getting better results than you are in the marriage issue, but it isn't like this isn't the same process every other civil rights issue has been addressed by. And though in reading about history, things seem to happen overnight because an entire issue is discussed in one or two paragraphs, in the real world all the civil rights issues we consider resolved (legislatively and judicially, though not perfectly resolved in reality) took time, usually decades if you observe the entire time line and not just the historical punchline, per se.

[NJmaverick]

9. Democracy is worshiped

but it's only about giving everyone a vote. It's the bill of rights and concept of civil liberties that are the source of all the good in our nation.

[Angry Dragon]

10. I am not sure if I understand .........

The Declaration or the Constitution??

[NJmaverick]

11. Our nation was founded on the principles put for in the Declaration

the Constitution (in my opinion) just worked out the details.

[Angry Dragon]

14. Okay........that makes sense

The people come first because they are the country.

So according to my mind any elected official that does not work towards the betterment of the people is in violation of the constitution??

[FBaggins]

12. From the very beginning

What was the Bill of Rights if not "rights that were voted on" ?

This isn't to say that the rights didn't exist previously... but in order to recognize them in law... they were voted on.

There are rights that are not enumerated within the Constitution... but there is no universally accepted list of what are and are not "rights".

They have always been voted on... sometimes with "our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor"... sometimes at the ballot box.

The difficulty here is the difference between already recognized rights and rights that, while not new, are "new" to be recognized.

[csziggy]

13. Florida did it too - and it sucks n/t

[jfkraus]

15. Another point about the Declaration...

The founding fathers were not out to create a Christian Nation. They were out to create a Nation with religious freedom. Read the Declaration of Independence. They wrote "endowed by their Creator." They did not write "endowed by God" or "endowed by Allah" or "endowed by Vishnu" or whatever. This set the tone for our new country and our Constitution. They meant it to be inclusive, to accommodate many different beliefs, and allow for religious freedom.