UNALIENABLE RIGHTS: Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness
These three
are listed in the Declaration of Independence as being among the Rights which
were endowed by the Creator on each person.
It states that we believe that “all men are created equal…” This is included in the very first sentence
explaining why the Americans have declared themselves to be free and
independent from Britain. This sentence
is the foundational reason why our Government was established by the people, “…to
secure these rights…” The proper role of
the Federal Government is to protect our Rights.
Why was it
not written as “Life, Liberty and Happiness”?
The founding fathers believed that God has given each of us the right to
life and the right to be free. They did
not believe that God gave us the right to be happy. There is considerable difference between the
right to be happy and the right to pursue happiness. We hear much about equality or the right to equal
outcomes. “Sharing the wealth” and “fair
share” both relate to this philosophy of equal results. Neither God nor the Declaration of
Independence tells us that we are guaranteed or promised equality in
outcome. What we do have the right to is
opportunity. We each have the right to
pursue happiness, as we see fit, as long as our pursuit does not infringe on
another’s rights. Whether you succeed and
become happy in your pursuit is not guaranteed or implied. That is where the challenge enters the
picture and your own determination, talents and hard work can be what causes
you to succeed or fail.
Government
was never intended to be an equalizer so that those who failed have similar
results to those who worked harder and succeeded. They were never supposed to take from the
successful and redistribute their earnings among those who did not succeed. Those who did well were to be an example for
the rest as what is possible if you keep trying. It was hard work that made America great, one
person after another achieving their goals.
No nation will become or remain great where the successful are punished
by their government and the unsuccessful are rewarded by the same. This robs men’s souls of their initiative and
drive and fosters a dependency on government.
We were
created equal, but where we end up depends on each of us.
