There's no such thing in America as All are Created Equal

[Lutherf]

That's only because you misinterpret the meaning of being "Created Equal."

It does not mean we are all literally "equal," as in born a perfect copy of each other with exactly the same physical, mental, and emotional makeup.

All it means is that were are born human beings, with more or less similar physical and mental characteristics. Then it is up to us to use our particular sets of strengths and weaknesses to live our lives as best we are able.

As for being endowed with certain "inalienable rights?" That means we have rights that are self-enforceable to defend our own existence, our personal freedom(s), and our own happiness to the best of our individual capabilities.

There is no guarantee that we will obtain everything we want, or need. Nor how long we will live. But we retain the ability to make choices and act on them again to the best of our individual capabilities. Even to choosing death over submission.

That's about right. To understand the term one needs to understand the system from which the founders were seeking independence. We were, at the time British citizens and subject to British law and British standards. One of those standards was the concept of royalty wherein one was afforded certain status merely due to the fact that their family had royal lineage. These people were afforded political and economic benefit merely because of their class and, as a side benefit, also tended to have legal advantages due to their affiliation with other royals that oversaw the systems of justice.

When Jefferson wrote, "...All men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights..." he wasn't talking about establishing a new system of rights but, rather, tearing down an old system that had prevented the enjoyment of these rights for so many merely because they had been born to the common class.

 

[Robertinfremont]

Try working? Prepare for a better future and start young. Sorry but things don't "just happen" for most of us, we work for it.

Good case is my own son and his son. Both started using drugs at an early age. I was gone due to the divorce. My son related to me he woke up one day and said he had to be an adult. He retired as a millionaire. Jonny his own son also used drugs. Still smokes pot daily he tells me. But my son gave him cash to purchase a home. And so far Jonny is doing fine and is now in his own painting business and making plenty of money.

 

[Integrityrespec]

It means "equal before the law", not "that everyone can lift 200 pounds" or everyone "can run the 7 minute mile".

Correct, equal under the law, and equal with opportunity to pursue goals. Nothing is guaranteed, but a chance to make it. Those that sit and wait for it to be given are usually disappointed.

 

[Torus34]

I do. I stay clear of all Democrats. So far it is working.

Thank you for your response.

N.B. For those who may have posted a comment to one of my posts and not received a response, there are now 14 people on my 'Ignore' list. It's possible you are one of them.

Regards to all.

 

[Robertinfremont]

Thank you for your response.

N.B. For those who may have posted a comment to one of my posts and not received a response, there are now 14 people on my 'Ignore' list. It's possible you are one of them.

Regards to all.

Is that actually a way to reply? To announce you have 14 people you ignore?

 

[Torus34]

Is that actually a way to reply? To announce you have 14 people you ignore?

Sure. There are some on this site who are trolls. There are others who are disrespectful of fellow posters. Blocking them makes my life decidedly more pleasant. In addition, I may alert some posters to this useful function of the site's software.

Regards. Nighty-night and enjoy the evening.

 

[Good4Nothin]

This is something people like to say they believe in but it's BS

Look at how some homeless people live. I know one who has been homeless over a decade. I know the area this person lives in and there isn't any housing a person like that can afford

But it seems the downtrodden are 100 percent blamed for their situation.

If u owned a company, would u hire someone who has lived on the streets that long? Someone who is obviously a little mental?

No u wouldn't

But what is the person supposed to do?

People who don't have family to help need help from someone. But nobody seems to care

I don't know how a simple small room that costs very little is rocket science... We manage to find taxpayers $$$ to fund all kinds of less important projects

All are equally important to God, I've heard

But to other people??

Haha...

Yet God's word says to be perfect "as your Father in Heaven is perfect". Mt 5:48

Then there's Mt 2531

Love 1619

I think it's time for some kind of virtual theocracy

Obviously, people are not actually created equal. The concept of everyone being equal means everyone has equal rights in our legal system.

Obviously, some people are mentally ill, some more so than others, which prevents them from working. Mental illness is not really understood and there are no cures. It would be nice if the society could provide the mentally ill with places to live and belong. When they were kept in mental hospitals there was less homelessness. But mental hospitals are probably not great places to live.

 

[What if...?]

Would you accept placing a few (say 25?) of those small little rooms full of mentally disturbed folks who will do who knows what to support their "other needs" in your neighborhood? If not, then there is your answer as to why this is not being done.

They've actually had surprising success, and a net savings to the taxpayers, in places where they've experimented with just giving folks housing.

It works out better than you expect.

There's a certain amount of getting ****ed up because what else are you gonna do on the street to feel a little better for a bit in all of these assessments as well.

Folks get jobs because they have showers and addresses. They start to feel human again. Many get better.

Much of the propaganda on this such next comes from the landlords. Make no mistake.

Man. I wish we had left them in Europe. I honestly think the founders didn't address it because they didn't even know how much land there was, so the short supply aspect that was fundamental to the practice in Europe was absent.

They apparently didn't factor in how nice it is to be able to force people to work for you in exchange for a place to lay their heads.

All you gotta do is buy up all the land. Then make it a crime to trespass on it. Voila! Instant money!

No human being gave up a third of their gross effort for shelter alone until it became possible to force them to do so.

 

[2distracted]

That is from the Declaration of Independence making the case that, high born or low, every man has the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. And even Kings cannot infringe on those rights.

The Constitution is a basic plan to not only assure those rights but also how to form a Government that levels the playing field so the everyone has the opportunity to achieve their personal goals. But, you are correct, in the wealthiest most prosporous nation ever to exist we should be doing better to provide for the less fortunate amongst us. None among us should be going hungry, lack for good medical care and at the very least a dry, healthy place to reside.

"As you do unto the least of these, my brethren; so too you have done unto me". Matthew 25:40

But if affordable housing were made available to those on SSI and etc... If a simple room were to go for, say, $10 a night (maybe a pay shower nearby) that would make greedy landlords irate...

 

[2distracted]

After studies of the homeless in SF, I hope he does not take your advice but calls the social welfare people.

I would never invite any stranger into my home and would warn against it...unless u have a big gun and....etc

 

[Robertinfremont]

I would never invite any stranger into my home and would warn against it...unless u have a big gun and....etc

Smart person., I wish you well.

 

[2distracted]

Obviously, people are not actually created equal. The concept of everyone being equal means everyone has equal rights in our legal system.

Obviously, some people are mentally ill, some more so than others, which prevents them from working. Mental illness is not really understood and there are no cures. It would be nice if the society could provide the mentally ill with places to live and belong. When they were kept in mental hospitals there was less homelessness. But mental hospitals are probably not great places to live.

I agree except I think homelessness especially long term CAUSES mental illness and or makes it worse

I have severe PTSD and few...as u say... understand how that kind of thing can really messed up your life. I think that it will probably get worse bc ..there are more untrustworthy ppl than trustworthy.. but I carry on

Just don't get why housing has to be so high, so some landlord can live well while others live like a dog

 

[2distracted]

Smart person., I wish you well.

Thanks...unless you're being sarcastic...?

 

[ttwtt78640]

They've actually had surprising success, and a net savings to the taxpayers, in places where they've experimented with just giving folks housing.

It works out better than you expect.

There's a certain amount of getting ****ed up because what else are you gonna do on the street to feel a little better for a bit in all of these assessments as well.

Folks get jobs because they have showers and addresses. They start to feel human again. Many get better.

Much of the propaganda on this such next comes from the landlords. Make no mistake.

Man. I wish we had left them in Europe. I honestly think the founders didn't address it because they didn't even know how much land there was, so the short supply aspect that was fundamental to the practice in Europe was absent.

They apparently didn't factor in how nice it is to be able to force people to work for you in exchange for a place to lay their heads.

All you gotta do is buy up all the land. Then make it a crime to trespass on it. Voila! Instant money!

No human being gave up a third of their gross effort for shelter alone until it became possible to force them to do so.

That (bolded above) is what the homeless have decided, for whatever reasons, to refuse (to be forced) to do.

 

[AmNat]

When Jefferson wrote, "...All men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights..." he wasn't talking about establishing a new system of rights but, rather, tearing down an old system that had prevented the enjoyment of these rights for so many merely because they had been born to the common class.

And how did this experiment, filling an entire country with people who expect to be treated the same as royalty, work out?

 

[Lutherf]

And how did this experiment, filling an entire country with people who expect to be treated the same as royalty, work out?

It did pretty well for a little over 200 years but now it's heading into commie territory.

 

[AmNat]

It did pretty well for a little over 200 years but now it's heading into commie territory.

It's been headed that way for the better part of a century.

Once the principle of equality is admitted, it's inevitable that all reminders of human inequality will be condemned. Eventually (classical) liberalism itself is thrown under the bus. The miracle of America is that it took so long to happen here.

 

[Robertinfremont]

Thanks...unless you're being sarcastic...?

No, I do wish you well.

 

[Drawdown]

With all due respect this is stunningly stupid.

It was right there in the original document. Ignoring history is willfully stupid.

 

[soylentgreen]

It means "equal before the law", not "that everyone can lift 200 pounds" or everyone "can run the 7 minute mile".

And does anyone here think that there is equality before the law?

 

[CaughtInThe]

"Veteran homelessness in America is not a phenomenon only of the 21st century; as early as the Reconstruction Era, homeless veterans were among the general homeless population. In 1932, homeless veterans were part of the Bonus Army. In 1934, there were as many as a quarter million veterans living on the streets. During the Truman Administration, there were one hundred thousand homeless veterans in Chicago, and a quarter of that number in Washington, D.C. In 1987, the number of homeless veterans was as high as three hundred thousand."

 

[gdgyva]

Of course I would

And there should be an incentive for business owners to hire them. Everyone deserves a 2nd Chance

Also it looks like homeless ppl are at least more trustworthy than some rich ppl who come to mind...j. Epstein... Weinstein... Cosby...OJ

How come no one ever puts them down
?

oooh....you want me to HIRE a known mentally challenged person

and when that person causes an issue with an employee, a customer, or my business, who is going to be responsible? you? my insurance?

take that thing above your shoulders and use it to actually think for a moment....

how am i as a businessman, suppose to "protect" myself against such an incident happening in such a litigious world that we live in

wanting the world to be a better place is a wonderful sentiment....telling businessmen what they should do unless you can think of ways they can be protected is just idiotic and asinine

 

[What if...?]

That (bolded above) is what the homeless have decided, for whatever reasons, to refuse (to be forced) to do.

So they value their freedom more than the rest of us?:mrgreen:

One thing I've noticed as I have gotten older that most apparently do not is that while it is still possible to "succeed" it gets harder every year. The "buy in" goes up. Cost of living goes up.

I wonder how many people are going to still believe the stock market is somehow reflective of "main street" when this is all over. Virus rampant, stock market doing just fine so far.

It is also good to remember that propaganda is a primary tool of the rich. And there are billions in market share up for grabs for the first to get their peasants back to work.

 

[Slartibartfast]

This is something people like to say they believe in but it's BS

Look at how some homeless people live. I know one who has been homeless over a decade. I know the area this person lives in and there isn't any housing a person like that can afford

But it seems the downtrodden are 100 percent blamed for their situation.

If u owned a company, would u hire someone who has lived on the streets that long? Someone who is obviously a little mental?

No u wouldn't

But what is the person supposed to do?

People who don't have family to help need help from someone. But nobody seems to care

I don't know how a simple small room that costs very little is rocket science... We manage to find taxpayers $$$ to fund all kinds of less important projects

All are equally important to God, I've heard

But to other people??

Haha...

Yet God's word says to be perfect "as your Father in Heaven is perfect". Mt 5:48

Then there's Mt 2531

Love 1619

I think it's time for some kind of virtual theocracy

Harrison Bergeron

 

[Bullseye]

It was right there in the original document. Ignoring history is willfully stupid.

The words are there - as a means of reducing the power of slave owning states.