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Originally Posted by fibber
I'ld have to state the government's role as more of attempting to balance the will of the majority VS the rights of a single person.
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This makes sense, but where do the rights of a single person come from? The founding fathers believed "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them are life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Obviously, the founding fathers believed in the existence of a higher power and that was the source of individual rights. With the absence of a higher power, how are we to determine what rights should take precedence over others? I've heard the term "common sense" thrown around a couple of times, but "common sense" in 1930's and 40's Germany said it was ok to anhiliate the Jews for the betterment of German society. I think we would all argue today that their viewpoint was wrong...an example of the majority being wrong. However, if we are all just animals guided by "common sense" with no absolutes, then how can anyone argue that their "common sense" is superior to anyone else's? I believe it's wrong because I believe in morality being handed down by a higher power, like the founding fathers did.