Lots of cringeworthy American exceptionalism and nationalism in that thread. I especially like this one:
It doesn't, all of these countries have different definitions on what "Rights" are, most of their constitutions don't even define a right in the context of a divine power as the United States does, most countries actually believe its the government's job to assign what rights its people are allowed.
It takes an impressive amount of baseless self confidence to speak with such certainty, yet with such ignorance, not only about other countries but your own country as well.
The point he's trying—but failing—to make is to invoke the core underpinnig of American legal philosophy: that people intrinsically have rights as an aspect of their being, and that they grant their government limited authority to regulate rights in order to ensure that nobody's rights get taken away or trampled on. Though the Declaration of Independence isn't part of the Constitution, it's useful rhetoric for understanding the legal philosophy of the United States, where everything I just said is phrased as:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed [...]
He idiotically phrases this as "divine power" probably because of this passage, but the actual salient point is that laws and states simply do not possess the power to grant or bestow the rights that already exist independently of them.
Some Americans are indoctrinated to hate the government so much they forget that rights (despite what ever wording they use) are given and protected by the government
US official reasoning from 2020, copied below. But here's the link
This resolution rightfully acknowledges the hardships millions of people are facing, and importantly calls on States to support the emergency humanitarian appeals of the UN. However, the resolution also contains many unbalanced, inaccurate, and unwise provisions the United States cannot support. This resolution does not articulate meaningful solutions for preventing hunger and malnutrition or avoiding their devastating consequences.
The United States is concerned that the concept of “food sovereignty” could justify protectionism or other restrictive import or export policies that will have negative consequences for food security, sustainability, and income growth. Improved access to local, regional, and global markets helps ensure food is available to the people who need it most and smooths price volatility. Food security depends on appropriate domestic action by governments, including regulatory and market reforms, that is consistent with international commitments.
We also do not accept any reading of this resolution or related documents that would suggest that States have particular extraterritorial obligations arising from any concept of a “right to food,” which we do not recognize and has no definition in international law.
For these reasons, we request a vote and we will vote against this resolution.
It's acquire bad reason imo. If anything, the resolution is very forgiving. It could literally pass and nothing absolutely change, yet they still chose to vote against it.
Which is what happens when you put the government in charge of your food. Joseph Stalin,
Mao Zedong, and Hugo Chávez, among many others, all starved millions of people to death. Many Americans are scared to give the government too much power. Unfortunately, the government finds a way to seize that power anyway. I'm sure they'll find a way to control the food supply. The only thing people can do is oppose it at every turn. Everything evil that the government does is cloaked in altruism, and compassion. Some people see through that cloak. It's a shame that more people don't see through it.
I'm amazed at how many people look at the US as an evil invading power, and then wonder why the American people don't want to let the government take more control over their daily lives. We see what they are doing all over the world, and we sure as hell don't want it here. The US government is filled with the most evil and corrupt people this society has to offer. The fact that anyone would support anything those bastards do, or want to do, is beyond me.
I think we have an ethical obligation to help others. Being against forcing someone to do something at gun point doesn't necessarily mean I don't want that something done.
It's pretty disingenuous to claim being against a government provision means someone is in favor of the opposite.
Not subscribed. Saw it in all and found the reddit posting peculiar. Just found it interesting seeing it shift from sort of a reddit alternative guide section and state of api back in the day to now a reddit reposting sub.