The Absurd GOP

[Ivan Denisovich]

Whatever you say sweet cheeks. Speech is free unless it isn't.

George Carlin once said, "If you can take it away, it's not a right, it's a privilege."

This is where we are today here in America.

It would mean that every right is a privilege as any right can be taken away if gov is tyrannical enough.

[The Grand Nudger]

More as violating your rights. Not taking them away. OFC tyrannical governments violate rights. It's pretty much baked into the adjective.

So, for example. Our government intends to violate our civil rights. It routinely tells us as much. I believe them.

[Thumpalumpacus]

It would mean that every right is a privilege as any right can be taken away if gov is tyrannical enough.

Mao was right.

More as violating your rights.  Not taking them away.  OFC tyrannical governments violate rights.  It's pretty much baked into the adjective.

So, for example.  Our government intends to violate our civil rights.  It routinely tells us as much.  I believe them.

Implicit in your reply here is that rights exist as objective things. I'd argue instead that 1) "rights" are based upon shared cultural values, instead, and that 2) the equivocation of "violation" with taken away is a distinction without a difference, because if you can't exercise your rights, you don't have them.