Time to start thinking

We all know and appreciate the various "rights" protected in the Bill of Rights, the ongoing governmental intrusions and violations notwithstanding, because they are worth protecting from State action. But there are a LOT of ambiguities, a lot of second guessing, and (especially lately) "it's just so OLD".

Given that we are currently at the beginning stages of the collapse, I feel a little like Hari Seldon, except that I don't have an entire planet with institutions that are specifically defined and easily controlled, just to ameliorate the ensuing bouncing rubble. But Hari's goal was not to stop the collapse of Galactic Empire, any more than mine is to stop the collapse of the existing bloated system.

The goal is to have something better grow out of the ashes, not merely another phoenix.

So with that in mind, I would like to suggest a few thoughts that will need to be better phrased - defined, if you will - so that there will be less of a chance for misunderstanding by those who seek to control their fellow citizen through an excess of "I know what's good for you better than you do"-itis (more popularly known as "progressivism" in modern lingo).

"Freedom of speech" -- all well and good, and it seemed to be pretty emphatic with the "Congress shall make no law", but what qualifies as "speech"? Lots of court cases, even up to the present day, are still trying to argue that out. Does a financial donation count as speech? Support, surely, but speech?

"Freedom of religion" - again, all well and good, but given that even atheism is a religious point of view, do the atheists have the right to tell the rest of us how and where to worship, just because they might be offended by seeing the baby Jesus in the public park? Can states actually punish people for following their religious persuasions? (No? Lots of conscientious objectors went to jail during WW2 and Vietnam, not to mention the baker who must be "rehabilitated" for refusing to bake a same-sex wedding cake in Oregon.) What, exactly, is a religion? Branch Davidians? Scientologists? Church of Satan? Wicca? (From a legal standpoint, the answer is "all of the above". Including the atheists.) But what about when one religion directly opposes another? Protestant vs Catholic, Mormons vs Moonies, Islam vs ... well, let's face it, "everyone else on the planet". (Kind of tough to reason with "Submit or Die", ain't it?)

Speaking of which, can we insert something about "There is no right to not be offended, so suck it up"?

What kinds of weapons are private citizens allowed to keep and own? At what point do our actions pass into the public arena, and by so doing, surrender the privacy that is never actually mentioned in the Bill of Rights? Can we try phrasing it differently than simply "cruel and unusual"?

Better start thinking about it now, so that when the discussion start around the burning wreck that was City Hall, you will be better able to influence things into the path we want.