Common Good vs. Individual Rights

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Common Good vs. Individual Rights
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• Newsweek columnist Robert J. Samuelson recently
  wrote
• "We face a choice between a society where people
  accept modest sacrifices for a common good or a
  more contentious society where groups selfishly
  protect their own benefits."

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What does Mr. Samuelsons quote mean? Write a
response.
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What is the Common Good?

• The Good that is shared by a community. In
  other words, what is best for the whole - or the
  majority - of a population or group.

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Does the Common Good require sacrifice?

• As Mr. Samuelson wrote, yes, sacrifices are
  required. But, they should not violate
  individual rights

Majority rules, minority rights protected.
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Should individuals be allowed to smoke in public
places?

• Common good
• vs.
• Individual rights
• What do you think?

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Is the Bill of Rights a gift a contract
What comes with rights? Write what you think.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
The government will not establish a State
religion, or prohibit people from exercising
their religious beliefs.
I will not attempt to use the power and
privileges of government to further my religious
beliefs.
The government will not diminish the freedom of
speech or the freedom of the press.
I will endeavor always to speak in a responsible
manner and to read critically.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
I will assemble peacefully with due respect for
law and order in a civilized society.
The government will not interfere with the
freedom to assemble peaceably.
The government will not prohibit people from
petitioning for redress of grievances.
I will petition the government for redress of
grievances only after careful thought
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
The right of the people to keep and bear arms for
the militia shall not be infringed.
I will keep and bear arms in such manner as to
avoid injury to others.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
I will not burden the government in times of
peace and I will cooperate with the government h
time of war.
In times of peace no soldier will be quartered in
any house without the consent of the owner, nor
in wartime, except as prescribed by law.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
The people and their homes shall not be subject
to unreasonable searches and seizures
I will not attempt, or permit, the conduct of
unlawful activities in my home.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
A person suspected of a capital crime shall not
be held accountable, unless indicted by a grand
jury.
I will refrain from expressing opinions about
suspected criminals and allow the legal system to
operate without my involvement.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
A person accused of a crime shall have the right
to a speedy and public trial by jury.
I will serve on a jury, willingly and without
bias, when requested to do so.
I will refrain from seeking compensation for
trivial, unlikely causes for purely personal gain.
Common law suits involving property shall also
have the right of a trial by jury.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
Excessive fines, or cruel and unusual
punishments, shall not be imposed.
I will not engage in schemes designed to deprive
the government of its legal rights.
The rights listed here do not lessen any other
rights, which are retained by the people.
I will respect the need of the government to be
adaptive to the challenges of its time.
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Bill of RightsRights AND Obligations
Powers not delegated to the government, or the
states, are reserved for the states, or the
people.
I will exercise the powers to which I am entitled
with restraint and urge my state government to do
the same.
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What do you think?
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After watching this movie and going through this
presentation, what do you think the common good
means?What do you think about the common good
versus individual rights?(write your responses)
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Sources

• http//www.think-wise.com/BillofRights.htm
• http//www.ncsl.org/public/trust/handout4-m.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_good
• www.unitedstreaming.com