You continue to floor me with your wisdom, clarity, and writing skills. Would you please move to Arizona (Republican state) to bring your voice here? How about getting into a leadership position in the national Republican party? How about running for President? Sure Oregon needs your voice, but you have a bigger voice than Oregon is willing to hear. The Country needs you!!!
Much of what state I agree with, rights are not earned by citizenship, but where I draw a very distinct like is where you start to get blurry.
Rights, Privileges, and Government Services: Know the Difference
In the American tradition, rights are inherent to the individual—endowed by our Creator, not granted by government. They are protections from coercion, not entitlements to goods. Free speech, self-defense, and due process are rights; they do not require the labor or property of another to be exercised.
Privileges are conditional benefits extended by governments or institutions—like driving a car, receiving a license, or access to certain public programs. These can be granted, regulated, or revoked.
Government services are publicly funded programs—education, welfare, infrastructure—created through taxation and political will. They may be valuable, even essential, but they are not rights. You don’t have a “right” to something that must be taken from someone else to give to you.
Housing is not a right. Healthcare is not a right. These are products and services that require labor, expertise, and materials. To claim them as rights is to conscript others into service, which is a polite word for involuntary servitude.
Citizenship may grant access to privileges and services, but it does not—and must not—redefine what a right is. A true right does not make another person a servant.
I agree with your distinctions, rights are inherent, not granted, and they don't entitle anyone to another person’s labor. But where we may differ is this. Once someone is in our custody or under our jurisdiction, our Constitution applies. It dictates the rules for how engage. For how we apply justice. You see, due process, humane treatment, these aren't privileges. They're restraints on government power. That’s not about entitlements, it’s about who we are under the rule of law.
I am an Oregonian and progressive Democrat who somehow got on your mailing list, and chose to stay on it as I appreciate hearing your point of view, and value your reasonable writings, even while not always agreeing with your positions. I just wanted to thank you for your article about unalienable human rights and upholding the Constitution. Your words give me hope that it is still possible to find common ground, and that there are still Republicans who actually care about people, in principle, not just because they are within our own little worlds, or like "us." I needed to read this in this world full of hate, scapegoating, disinformation, and willingness to dehumanize the "other." Thank you.
Thanks so much, JoJo. I write hoping to reach exactly the kind of thoughtful disagreement you just expressed. If we can hold onto our shared principles, there’s still hope for common ground.
Very well written and I agree completely. It does seem the press have forgotten balanced reporting and opinions are slanted which causes problems as people seem to lose tolerance. There are those that use Nazi and King as labels that infuriate and create diversion. We can disagree and still respect the dialogue.
You are wrong! In 1996 the law changed for expeditated deportations. It is legal. You are a huge disappointment, and I am very sorry I voted for a RINO like you.
Denice, I hear your frustration. We don’t have to agree on everything, that’s part of what makes this country work. Honest disagreement is healthy, and I still have a lot of respect for you. If that means losing your vote, I’ll accept that.
My family has been living in So. Tillamook County since 1895 thank you for representing us!
You continue to floor me with your wisdom, clarity, and writing skills. Would you please move to Arizona (Republican state) to bring your voice here? How about getting into a leadership position in the national Republican party? How about running for President? Sure Oregon needs your voice, but you have a bigger voice than Oregon is willing to hear. The Country needs you!!!
Thank you, Nelle. For now, I’m focused on doing what I can right here, but I’m always thinking about how to be useful beyond Oregon too.
I could not agree more, most eloquent!
Yes, thank you for sharing your heart. I, too, am deeply impressed with your writing. I am even more impressed with the moral clarity.
Huzzah! ❤️
Beautiful and right on. Thank you for being a true leader in your party.
Thank you!
Bravo 👏
Excellent!!! Thank you Rep Javadi!
Thank you Judith!
Much of what state I agree with, rights are not earned by citizenship, but where I draw a very distinct like is where you start to get blurry.
Rights, Privileges, and Government Services: Know the Difference
In the American tradition, rights are inherent to the individual—endowed by our Creator, not granted by government. They are protections from coercion, not entitlements to goods. Free speech, self-defense, and due process are rights; they do not require the labor or property of another to be exercised.
Privileges are conditional benefits extended by governments or institutions—like driving a car, receiving a license, or access to certain public programs. These can be granted, regulated, or revoked.
Government services are publicly funded programs—education, welfare, infrastructure—created through taxation and political will. They may be valuable, even essential, but they are not rights. You don’t have a “right” to something that must be taken from someone else to give to you.
Housing is not a right. Healthcare is not a right. These are products and services that require labor, expertise, and materials. To claim them as rights is to conscript others into service, which is a polite word for involuntary servitude.
Citizenship may grant access to privileges and services, but it does not—and must not—redefine what a right is. A true right does not make another person a servant.
Hi Ben,
I agree with your distinctions, rights are inherent, not granted, and they don't entitle anyone to another person’s labor. But where we may differ is this. Once someone is in our custody or under our jurisdiction, our Constitution applies. It dictates the rules for how engage. For how we apply justice. You see, due process, humane treatment, these aren't privileges. They're restraints on government power. That’s not about entitlements, it’s about who we are under the rule of law.
—Cyrus
Appreciate the fact that you are motivated by principles as opposed to petty party dogmas.
Thanks! I try to keep putting principles and people before politics, even when it might be politically expensive.
Keep up the good work. Politicians like you are too few and far between,
especially in Oregon.
Representative Javadi-
I am an Oregonian and progressive Democrat who somehow got on your mailing list, and chose to stay on it as I appreciate hearing your point of view, and value your reasonable writings, even while not always agreeing with your positions. I just wanted to thank you for your article about unalienable human rights and upholding the Constitution. Your words give me hope that it is still possible to find common ground, and that there are still Republicans who actually care about people, in principle, not just because they are within our own little worlds, or like "us." I needed to read this in this world full of hate, scapegoating, disinformation, and willingness to dehumanize the "other." Thank you.
JoJo
Thanks so much, JoJo. I write hoping to reach exactly the kind of thoughtful disagreement you just expressed. If we can hold onto our shared principles, there’s still hope for common ground.
Very well written and I agree completely. It does seem the press have forgotten balanced reporting and opinions are slanted which causes problems as people seem to lose tolerance. There are those that use Nazi and King as labels that infuriate and create diversion. We can disagree and still respect the dialogue.
Thanks, Alan. I couldn’t agree more. Respectful disagreement is the foundation of a functioning republic, and we need a lot more of it right now.
Our country, our constitution for our legal citizens.
You are wrong! In 1996 the law changed for expeditated deportations. It is legal. You are a huge disappointment, and I am very sorry I voted for a RINO like you.
Denice, I hear your frustration. We don’t have to agree on everything, that’s part of what makes this country work. Honest disagreement is healthy, and I still have a lot of respect for you. If that means losing your vote, I’ll accept that.