Can I keep the $2k for PC upgrades? If not, then I guess I'll have to answer. And by the way, Yellow, I first saw this last night when I quickly checked my social medias etc before bed, and ended up laying awake for an hour contemplating this. So thank you for that. Anyway, here's a summary of my pondering:
The right to vote – $400 – While I do question why people vote in the ways that they do and believe most people vote on issues that they unfortunately know little about, without the right to vote the government would be unaccountable and we would be under tyranny.
The right to trial by a jury of your peers - $350 – I’m going to amend this slightly here to the right to a fair trial. Although I have never been on trial, I don’t trust my peers at all as it comes down to who’s lawyer can successfully sway the opinion of the jury. But, everyone deserves a fair trial. For if it cannot be proven fairly, how else can we prosecute?
Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure - $300 – I’m putting this a little below a fair trial. I don’t agree with unwarranted searches or seizures, but it does come down to the same thing as having a fair and reasonable justice and policing system. Although people like to complain greatly about the government spying on them, this in itself doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I’m far too boring a person for them to have any interest in me and doubt I break any laws that would concern anyone.
Freedom of/from religion – $300 – I had to stop and think about this for a moment. Everyone dislikes those preachers who show up at their door; but as issues go it doesn’t affect my life greatly. I do not fully understand why people do, but of course, if they find life easier when they believe in such things they should be free to do so as long as those beliefs are not causing harm to anyone else. And there in lies the problem – we can look back into our own history when people did not have freedom to not practice religion and see churches will unreasonable power and heresy being a capital offence. We see in the middle east what happens when people do not have this freedom and can agree it is, in fact, vitally important.
Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment – $250 – I believe this important. I don’t fear my own safety, although I can think of some cruel and unusual punishments that are quite creative that I would not like to undergo. I sometimes attempt to argue their validity in order to argue with a work colleague, but that is all in the name of fun, really. My last suggestion was to use sensory deprivation chambers for sentences – a 6 month sentence in sensory deprivation while being fed intravenously would be much harsher than several years in prison. But of course, I don’t believe that at all. It’s a simple fact that severe punishment is highly ineffective at both rehabilitation and information extraction. All it does is breed resentment for the hand that dealt the punishment. Harsh sentences and capital punishments may make the general public feel like justice has been served, but it does not discourage crime or re-offence and that is really what should be aimed towards.
The right to free speech – $250 This one is interesting. Most people put this at the top of their list. Yes, the right to air your opinion is a basic right. But we do have limitations on what we can say everywhere we go. Whether it is a Mod in a forum, your boss at work, or by law, we do have limitations. And should you be free to incite fear or prejudice? Then we have to decide who decides what constitutes as prejudice? Manipulation is really the most effective tool of control, but who could possibly police this fairly?
Freedom of the press – $100 - I’m putting this lower freedom of public speech and keeping it separate. The press has an obligation to inform the public about the truth. But in my opinion, they seem to be interested in selling a story rather than telling a story. And we end up with celebrity stalking and attempts to glorify or horrify. This is not always a good thing, and they have an enormous amount of power over the general public and over democracy.
The right to petition the government - $50 – While we can look back at things like the Chartism Riots and agree that it is necessary for the public to petition the government with legitimate misgivings or concerns, democracy and free speech are generally far more effective at this.
The right to confront your accuser - $0. As long as a fair trial is in place, I do not feel the need to confront my accusers (not that I have ever been accused of a serious crime). Cross examining your own victims seems like a cruel and unusual psychological torture in itself.
The right to bear arms s - $0. We haven’t had the right to bear arms for over twenty years here. While I’m aware many people will fundamentally disagree with me, I don’t believe my personal freedoms or safety are compromised in any way by not having the ability to bear arms.
