Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "inalienable rights". They can always be "taken away" by someone who doesn't respect them, and has the power to suspend them.

There is no system capable of preventing them from being taken, by force. There are no natural laws preventing their abuse. We simply have to all agree not to abuse them. That's our only protection.

[–] wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 days ago

Indeed. This is why I've always loved the quote from Psycho-pass: "The law doesn't protect people, people protect the law"

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The law is built by the people. That comes with the duty to protect it when the time comes. Mobs of people can't decide justice, but they sure as fuck should be tearing down rulers that tell them their rights don't exist.

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Unfortunately, in America, they vote them back into power and instead.

[–] Signtist@bookwyr.me 4 points 2 days ago

Well, the real protection is our unwavering willingness to kill someone in power who doesn't respect our rights, as well as those who would fight for them. That's what our country was founded on, and it's why we have the second amendment.

Our country has the expectation that we'll grab our weapons and march on the capitol if our rights are ever called into question, putting fear in every would-be dictator's mind about what would happen if they tried to deny them. We've avoided that duty for so long that now we have a dictator in charge who doesn't fear us at all.

January 6th was not bad because they marched on the capitol, but because they did it to back fascism. We need to do the exact same thing in the name of equality and justice in order to fulfill the expectations placed on us by those who founded this country.

[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 3 points 3 days ago

There is, actually. It's a seemingly obscene option.

In the 20th century, we called it Mutually Assured Destruction.

In the 18th century, it was known by a more patriotic aphorism: "Give me liberty, or give me death".

Society stops being repressive when everyone goes about their day with a claymore strapped to their chest. Everyone gets real polite, real fast. Everyone starts turning the other cheek, right up until someone gets overly frustrated, or someone else pushes their luck just a little too far.

Short of that, the solution is not an external system, but an internalized, yet shared philosophy.

One thing is certain: it won't come from polarized politics.