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Quote by: grandpa  However, I disagree with the premise that "rights will not exist" where government and law" are "unwilling or unable" to defend them. Rights exist wherever they are perceived, regardless of formal social structure. In fact, to think rights can only be enforced by law is a fundamental attack on the idea. If we depended on legal initiative -- that is, the initiative of bureaucratic policymakers -- for all our rights, we'd essentially be human cattle, all penned up with no freedom to move around independently. |
Well what I really meant was, in effect those rights, or the ability to enjoy those rights will cease to exist. It depends on wether or not rights are concessions granted by the elite to appease a riotous mob, or unalienable birthrights that are owed to us... which is quite an academic distinction.