Moral precepts are natural law we must abide

from a comment to The Diane Rehm Show:

We could have more discussion of principle in our reporting.

All governments seem to pursue policies that involve initiating force or violence against peaceful people.

There could be more discussion about what circumstances justify use of force, with a particular emphasis on initiation of force.

The kind of damage and suffering and the deaths caused by Syrian military attacks on citizens of Syria is similar to the kind of damage, suffering and deaths caused by my own government's military actions in several foreign nations.

A basic moral precept says that it is wrong for one person to initiate violence against another person. Because we do not have such a right to initiate force as individuals, we cannot legitimately delegate that right or authority to government.

There is a way to build a sustainable and just civilization. It involves sharing natural wealth equally. Pollution fees, with proceeds going to all people, would be an example of a policy that embodies this sharing in the political and economic structures. Fees on taking natural resources, with proceeds going to all people, would embody a respect of PUBLIC property rights in society. Public or commons property rights, like other human rights, are a kind of natural law which must be respected.

A basic moral precept says that we all have an equal right to enjoy natural opportunities. Related to this right is the right to share in deciding overall limits to rates of pollution and rates of taking of natural resources. There is a related shared duty to create systems of governance that result in actual limits that are in accord with, that are consistent with, the will of the people. We have to start talking about basic moral precepts if we are to carry out our most fundamental political responsibilities.

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