Commentary #1

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness- the fundamental rights on which our nation was founded. They are said to be "unalienable." But how far have people taken these "rights"? The right to live: some people believe should be decided by other people (death penalty), has been debated for many years. Some people think the courts should decide whether or not a criminal should be in jail for life or given the death sentence. Others believe the death sentence is wrong. Others still believe no one should decide- that when it's some one's time to die, they will die. That groups or individuals shouldn't be the deciding factor on some one's life. They should decide for themselves, or let nature take its toll. Liberty: to be free from a dictatorship or other form of oppression. Should America let government take over and make all the important decisions for us, or should the power still be given to the people? According to the Constitution, the people have the power to make decisions; voting, for example. Thomas Jefferson said, "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." Meaning that the people are the ones in charge, not their governments. The pursuit of happiness: society cannot take away a certain some one's rights to be happy and safe for no reason. That every man has the right to make a decision for himself, as long as it doesn't put others into jeopardy. The right to own a gun, for example. Some believe that everyone is entitled to have a gun. Others think that someone should have a reason to need or purchase a gun. It's the people's choice whether or not to do certain things, and that the government need not regulate every action we take.