Natural rights overlooked

There may be many like Sylvia Gobel (Feb. 7 letter) who mistakenly think that the U.S. federal government is a democracy, and that arbitrary “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Please, thoughtfully and honestly study the U.S. Constitution and American history. You’ll find the federal government is a republic, and American patriotism is dissent against tyranny.

What the signers of the Declaration of Independence opposed was England’s disregard of the colonists’ natural rights. Explicitly stated, these include “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These are superior to, and sometimes in conflict with the civil rights and department mission statements that Sylvia supports.

Although I agree with some of Sylvia’s statements, it is these natural rights that are “under attack” – mostly by progressives. Abortion deprives unborn humans of life. Many regulations deprive people of liberty by dictating use of their property and what they can buy and sell. Tyrants threaten the happy pursuit of making money, restrict it with regulations and confiscate it under the guise of lawful taxes.

Tyrants dictate “the common good,” which ironically harms many people. Liberty allows the individual to choose what is good for him/herself. Dissent against natural rights is antithetical to American patriotism.

Duncan Bean

Spokane Valley