This was written in 1993 by Lewis Napper,
a self-described amateur philosopher from Mississippi
who ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2000 as a Libertarian.
It widely circulates on the Internet
as having orginated from State Representative Mitchell
Kaye from GA (Not True)
Kaye's name likely became associated
with it through the innocent act of finding the article
in his inbox and liking it enough to forward to friends.
People tend to leave official-looking signatures intact
when they forward e-mail, and his name's remaining with
the piece beyond the initial round of forwardings could
easily have created the impression that he was the article's
creator.
Kaye is quick to give credit where credit
is due, and his office routinely informs those who ask
about the "Bill of No Rights" of its true
authorship.
On 19 July 2000, advice columnist Ann
Landers published a truncated version of the piece,
attributing it to Kaye. (Left out were the points about
free health care and sending troops to fight in foreign
wars.) She praised his "tough 'do-it-yourself'
position" and declared the language he used to
convey his message "delicious."
The "Bill" resonates with
folks because it addresses a number of issues that have
often led many of us to shake our heads in disbelief.
This Bill of Rights parody strikes straight at the heart
of the sense of entitlement so often displayed by those
who feel the world owes them a living.
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LEWIS NAPPER'S PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION
"We the sensible people of the
United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along,
restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots,
keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and
secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves
and our
great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more
time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines
for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional,
and other liberal bed-wetters.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole
lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and
are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big
screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power
to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is
guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This
country is based on freedom, and that means freedom
for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the
room, turn the channel, express a different opinion,
etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably
always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from
harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn
to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer
to make you and all your relatives
independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right
to free food and housing. Americans are the most
charitable people to be found, and will gladly help
anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of
subsidizing generation after generation of professional
couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation
of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right
to free health care. That would be nice, but from
the looks of
public housing, we're just not interested in public
health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically
harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally
maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest
of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right
to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat,
or coerce
away the goods or services of other citizens, don't
be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock
you away in a place where you still won't have the right
to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right
to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job,
and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we
expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of
education and vocational training laid before you to
make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness.
Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE
happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you
are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws
created by those of you who were confused by the Bill
of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country.
We don't care where you are from, English is
our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you
came from.
Lastly . . .
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our
country's history or heritage. This country was
founded on the belief in one true God. And yet,
you are given the freedom to believe in any religion,
any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution.
The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of
our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable
with it, TOUGH!!!!
Thanks to Noah for sending me this
gem...
Special EXTRA thanks to Judy Frigiola
for letting me know who the real author was!!!
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