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Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet by rbranson on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @08:43PM (#1246093)
Just because someone owns property does not mean that they have unending rights to do with that property what they wish. Go buy a piece of land in the middle of the city, build a giant bonfire, and see what happens. Due to state "regulation," your landlord can't just barge in on his/her property whenever he/she wishes. Laws like this have existed to protect the weak or meek for ages.

In a sense, "property" does not exist. Property only exists because laws exist to protect it. If the country you live in is invaded by a more powerful nation, how much do you think your "property" matters at that time? It's just a set of limited rights granted to you by the government, not unlimited license to do whatever you wish.

Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet by jswinghammer on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @09:16PM (#1246147)
What you are suggesting depends entirely on the source of rights. If rights are granted by men and can be removed then you're right. If your rights are inherent or granted by God then you are incorrect.

If my rights are granted by God (and included in those rights is the right to private ownership) then if someone invades my land they are violating God's law.

Private property is the basic requirement of wealth. It is defined by law to codify what existed for the protection and benefit of everyone. I'm basically quoting Aristotle here.

Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet by hugh3 on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @09:59PM (#1246216)
If God has laws to protect our rights, then He really should be way more vigilant about enforcing them.

Rights aren't granted by men, they're asserted by men. We have the right to free speech because we assert that we have the right to free speech, and the collective will of those who wish to assert the right to free speech is (currently, in this country, for the most part) greater than the will of those who wish to restrict it. This is why it's so important that we all agree on what rights we do have, and that we all spend a lot of time vigourously asserting them.

Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet by rbranson on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @10:28PM (#1246273)
^^^ This is mostly exactly what I'm getting at, but said in a much more eloquent way. Thank you.
Re:Net Neutrality: Toward a Stupid Internet by jswinghammer on Tuesday April 06, 2010 @11:41PM (#1246407)
God's laws would define our rights and if you believe that Hell exists then he makes sure things get sorted out in the end just fine.

Without a basis for defining rights you're leaving room for those rights to be trampled on by the next popular tyrant who comes along. That's what I'm concerned about.