Posted by
Moonkeeper on Thursday, March 12, 2009 1:21:28 PM
A logical society is based on the idea that government can only govern
individuals. Only individuals exist. As much as we try to put ourselves
into groups, those groups are only used as convenient methods to
describe oneself. One might say "I am black," or "I am conservative."
While the individual may identify with that group, actually belonging
to the group is an abstract idea. A group does not exist except as a
means of identifying a quantity of individuals. In reality, only
individuals exist. Therefore, the only rights that can truly exist are
individual rights.
In the public square, it is popular to put
labels on certain ideas and call them rights. Listening to virtually
any politician results in a discussion of a number of group rights. We
may hear about women's rights, racial equality, worker's rights, gay
rights etc... The discussion of rights in this matter can never lead to
the preservation or (re)establishment of freedom. The rights of a woman
do not exist because she is a woman. Those rights exist because she is
an individual. The same can be said for every other group. In a free
society, rights can only be given to individuals. Collective rights are
artificial entitlements to certain individuals that happen to have a
certain characterstic and an infringement of freedoms among those that
don't have that characteristic.