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Steven Taylor attempts to remind Kevin Drum that a belief in natural rights, such as that of Clarence Thomas, is hardly a right-wing radical (or reactionary?) notion; indeed, it was a bedrock principle that this nation was founded on, explicitly discussed in the Declaration of Independence and inherent in the Constitution—the “Blessings of Liberty” referred to in the preamble didn’t just emerge from thin air.
Update: Note that there is nothing inherently Christian in the Jeffersonian natural rights doctrine; as Jon Rowe points out, Jefferson and most of the key thinkers behind the Founding and the Constitution were not really Christians.
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4 comments:
His belief in natural rights is one of the reasons I like Thomas. I can think of little worse than having one of the social constructivists on SCOTUS who’s willing to view rights as granted by the state, and similarly taken away on a whim.
I don’t think Jefferonson and Krannawitter mean the same thing when they say natural rights. Can’t speak to Thomas. Just oppose him on the basis of his pro-religion stances.
flaime,
What, exactly, has Justice Thomas done that is “pro-religion”? I mean, other than protect it?
Justice Thomas grew up dirt poor in the Gulla area of Georgia, raised by a granddfather who worked hard every day of his life. Some of that rubbed off on Thomas, who’s a delight to speak to. He also has adopted his nephew, 12, because, as he said, it’s one thing to talk about helping folks who make poor decisions, it’s another to do something yourself.