I am no fan of Pompeo, but in this instance I would not necessarily retreat to the worst possible interpretation of his meaning. In constitutional law there is a distinction between negative rights, which are those things the government cannot do to you, and positive rights, those that the government must provide. The Bill of Rights only contains negative rights: the government cannot establish religion, prohibit it free exercise, infringe on free speech, etc. Positive rights have an element of controversy in that they can cost the state money, and the state may not be able to afford it. An education, a wildlife preserve, a minimum income, health insurance, etc. are examples. These are provided, if at all, in state constitutions, not the Federal. If Pompeo is merely discussing positive rights, his words are less controversial. But we may argue that the specific rights he doesn’t value are ones we do value: I would like to see national healthcare as a positive constitutional right; Pompeo would not. I would like a clean environment to be a national constitutional right, Pompeo would not. And etc.
Yes, which makes me very concerned about what they’re doing quietly. I had to search pretty hard to find stories about the roving gangs of federal kidnappers in Oregon.
Yet Pompeo highlighted how the commission’s report “emphasizes” that “foremost among these rights are property rights and religious liberty.”
Spoken like a true Monarchist.
When he talks of “Property Rights” he means the Right to own other people AS PROPERTY.
When he talks of “Religious Liberty” he means the Right to impose HIS RELIGION upon others via the power of the State.
PompousO has finally taken off the mask of civility and donned the White Hood of Christian Dominionism he has always held dear.
Animal Farm: “All of the Animals in the Barnyard are equal. Some are just more equal than others.”
At bare minimum, we have 6 more months of this shit coming…and it will only get WORSE.
According to Mary Trump, while Moscow Mitch knows trump is a con man but thinks he’ll still benefit from it personally, Pompeo is a “true believer” and that is much more frightening.
By prioritizing “religious rights” Pompeo means that if corporations or right-wingers invoke religion, they get to discriminate against others. They get to bully and lead them by the nose. They get to deny health care that includes contraception or abortion services, for example.
“no society can retain its legitimacy or a virtuous character without religious freedom”
but the key question - which RELIGION(S)… ?
Here’s your answer key …
Christianity (the right flavors - none of those liberal peace - love varieties)
Jews (the good ones)
Islam ( are you serious? NFW! not eligible! … not worth defending)
Buddhism (meh … just keep it down & don’t make us have to think about you)
Hindu ( did you hear what we just told the Buddhists?)
Atheists ? … Defend? Hell NO! - now that’s worth taking the time to persecute!
Pompeo is looking forward to being freed from the shackles of having to defend the human rights of Americans with disabilities!
No doubt he rants - Oh! what an albatross those people have become!
concerns that Pompeo’s purpose behind assembling the “Unalienable Rights” panel was to pursue an anti-abortion and LGBTQ agenda in U.S. foreign policy.
I live in a small house. It’s all I have. But even I know that property rights are not more important than human rights.
But I doubt by this time that any of us are surprised the same government that locks children in cages against all human decency cares more about the rights of corporations to refuse basic medical coverage to its female employees.
