[This discussion was originally about the "right" of governments to read people mail. As is natural and appropriate, it immediately became necessary to discuss the general question of rights.]
On Thu, 25 Jan 1996, Perry E. Metzger wrote:
I am a funny sort of person. I don't believe that governments should be able to do anything that individuals cannot.
At 07:00 PM 1/25/96 -0500, Alan Horowitz wrote:
So violent criminals should never be jailed?
Probably he believes they should be shot instead. The principle that governments have no special moral rights beyond those of normal men leads logically to the conclusion that men have a natural right to engage in just retribution, provided of course that such retribution can be seen to be just. John Locke has written at some length, attempting to justify limited government on this principle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.jim.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the state. | jamesd@echeque.com