Protecting our rights (freedom)

Our rights end when they infringe on other's rights just like I don't want them infringing on mine. In a civilized society, people agree to cooperate and to live under certain restrictions so they can live as civilized human beings. Different groups of people agree on different rules of behavior. Some of that is set by custom and some is set by law. Some of that is by democratic means and in some places, dictators set the law. In the US, we live in a representative democracy.

I've lived and worked in Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are different customs and different governments in each country. Not all countries on a continent are the same. But by living and working in some of those countries, I find those that think our "freedom" is limited to be ridiculous.

Go ahead and rant. I'm sure you will get a lot of sympathy on this forum. But it won't come from me.

Seems like this one should maybe be in random ramblings since it is more about things other than just chicken ordinances. But you can certainly rant here all you want. In this country, you won't get arrested or just disappear for doing that.

 

i think the comparison to freedom in other countries is dangerous.  US citizens should be concerned with what is being stripped in our own.  of course, i also dont think this applies much to backyard chickens.  i completely agree with your assessment of infringing on the rights of others.  ordinances governing chickens are reasonable, for the most part.

JDW, no apologies necessary at all. You have the right to express your opinion. I may have come down too heavy, but I’ll admit to getting a bit frustrated at some of the rants on here. I’m probably the one that owes you an apology. Nothing I am about to say is directed at you in any way. I’m not sure what I’m going to say yet, but I’ll say something and a lot of people won’t like it.

Fillmore, I agree that we need to defend our rights. If we don’t they will be taken away. That’s one reason when Uncle Sam wanted me in the early 70’s, he got me. Canada and Sweden were not options. You might even say there was some volunteering involved. But I digress.

But I look at our freedoms a bit differently than many on here. A few examples might be in order. I’ll take a few issues.

Freedom of religion. The Constitution basically says the government shall not use our taxes to push any specific religion on us. This means a Hindu or Buddhist’s taxes will not be used to support a Christian church. A Methodist’s taxes will not be used to support a Muslim mosque. The Supreme Court, as determined by the Constitution, has ruled that this means public property cannot be used to support any religion since it may have been bought with tax money and is supported and maintained by tax money. The work to support our Constitution and keep government from supporting any religion is not an attack on Christianity. It is an effort to keep government out of any religion. This applies to government employees while they are on the payroll clock. What they do on their own time is their business, but while they are being paid by tax money, is under this Constitutional protection. Which party says you can choose any religion you want as long as it is a version of Christianity? Which party says you can choose to worship as you wish without the qualifier?

Abortion. Which party wants to give the person the right to choose what she wants to do and which wants to dictate what she chooses? I’m not talking about what is right or wrong, purely which one wants to give freedom of choice versus which one is opposed to freedom of choice.

Gun control. This one flips. It is the only one I can think of that the Republicans win the free choice side of the debate.

Gay rights. Which party wants to control what goes in the privacy of your bedroom and which says that it is none of their business as long as it is between consenting adults. Again, I’m not saying which side is right or wrong, just which want to give the right to choose.

If freedom to make your own choices in your personal life is important to you as opposed to wanting government to tell you how to behave, which party will you support?

Now if you are talking about business freedom, that is different. One party wants to strip off all controls and totally deregulate while the other wants to keep some controls on how businesses operate.

im a veteran, too, we get passionate.  yea, i dont want to touch that debate in a chicken forum, but the difference between the two major parties is negligible.  i lean more toward libertarian.

I'm a veteran, too.

 

I love to read all the conflicting opinions here. And I love to see the activism that springs from people just wanting to have their own version of peace and plenty, whether it be backyard chickens or other things. And I'm always aware that my freedom to swing ends at someone else's nose.

 

I too have lived in other countries where freedom is a different concept, answered my own county's call for service and now want to just rake chicken poop and collect eggs in peace. Thank you all for providing me hours of entertainment, information and encouragement, as well as exasperation and the urge to debate.

 

I especially enjoy watching the process of getting ordinances changed to allow chickens. It's our form of democracy in action, a grass roots political activity that is uplifting, disappointing and above all, interesting. I'm really proud to participate here - with all of you.

 

Kate

CW3 US Army (ret.)

YES! What she said!

 

Folks, we're exercising our rights by changing local ordinances and laws. Please enjoy the freedom of doing so. I know I do!

 

Cheers,

Cate