[toomanybeersies]

The Constitution and Declaration of Independence are legal documents setting out the foundations of a government and a nationstate, not some divine text from a higher power. The founding fathers were not a group of infallible prophets.

[zaroth]

That’s not what geggam is saying. The underlying philosophy of the Bill of Rights as stated by the founders/framers is that the rights are “natural” rights which all are imbued at birth, and that the rights listed are not exhaustive but merely representative. In fact, the founders were wary of a Bill of Rights specifically because by enumerating some of them the list might be seen as complete.

But the notion is that governments do not “grant” these rights, and likewise government can never infringe upon god given rights.

[mindcrime]

In fact, the founders were wary of a Bill of Rights specifically because by enumerating some of them the list might be seen as complete.

Right, which is why we have the 9th and 10th amendments. Unfortunately they are effectively ignored, along with the Enumerated Powers clause, meaning our government effectively has unlimited power. :-(

[geggam]

No, they weren't infallible. They were however, experienced in human nature and saw tyranny/ death in ways you only imagine. Ignoring that experience dooms us to repeat the problems.

Assuming your intellect is superior to that which you cannot measure is also a common failure among smart folks. I am sure you dont fall prey to that trap.