What does "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" mean in 2011?
@valentinesdiner (1214)
United States
November 1, 2011 9:24pm CST
Does Life mean no abortions? No death penalty?
Does it mean things that sustain life like guaranteed housing or food stamps?
Liberty - like fewer regulations... no regulations?
Pursuit of happiness - does that include guaranteed student loans? Legalize marijuana?
Really what does this all mean to you?
3 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Nov 11
I think it's interesting that the word "Life" is used only 4 times in the US Constitution.
3 of the uses are followed by "without due process", and the other one is in reference to treason, and only applies to the status of the person accused, not punishment.
In other words, "Life" in "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" can't apply to capital punishment, unless such punishment is carried out prior to (or instead of) due process. Nothing in the Constitution mentions any right to life after due process.
"Liberty" is only mentioned 3 times. Once in the preamble, and the other 2 in the same sentence as 2 of the uses of the word "Life".. and again, always in connection with "due process".
The word "Happiness" is never once mentioned.
So, abortion on demand is expressly forbidden in the US Constitution, since there is no crime to offer "Due process" in the first place.
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All that aside, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are not defined in the US constitution because the US Constitution doesn't really concern itself with the Life, Liberty or Happiness of the individual. Instead, it defines the roll of the Federal Government in ensuring Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for the people of the United States of America.
So what does it mean today? The same thing it mean when it was written.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Preamble
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
4 Nov 11
Well I was going to say pretty much the same thing minus the part about Abortion because well that would require for a unborn fetus to be considered a Human being or a life in which it would then gain all the same rights as a person.
So since that isn't the case that is merely your opinion. (personally I feel that it any time after the first term the fetus is a life.
@JulyKing (110)
• China
2 Nov 11
Good afternoon,friend!
In my opinion,life is taking everything seriously with responsibility and loving your family and yourself!Liberty is less do what you want to do than don't do what you don't want to do!When it comes to pursuit of happiness,the foregoing two words are very important and the happiness will come to you if you don't stop pursuiting no matter how long!
Now 2011 will be over and 2012 is coming,do you always summarize what you have obtained and lost in the past year,those are all not important and you should spend every coming day in real earnest!
Have a good day!^_^
