The Principle Of Consent
Pop Quiz time!
What’s the difference between charitable contributions and taxation?
How are flirting and sexual harassment different?
What about employment and slavery?
Rape and love making?
The answer to all of these is the principle of consent. Each person has the right to decide what happens to their body and property. When they agree with something and give permission, an individual has given consent. Because they have given consent, the actions area acceptable. When consent is not given, actions that affect their body and property are violations of their rights and are illegitimate.
Principle Based Changes In Public Policy And Society
There is a lot of talk about change right now. Change in the way policing is done, or whether police departments should even exist. Should change be made to the way we live life because of the COVID-19 Coronavirus? Should we change the way we conduct elections? Will we re-elect President Trump, or elect someone else? In some ways, we are looking at the potential for making big changes to American society.
One example many of us have experienced is unwanted phone calls, emails, and text messages. Existing laws and practices are not strong or good enough. Data sharing should require a strong, legitimate opt-in, not just a general “agree” to a huge terms and conditions document that hardly anyone ever reads.
For example, for the last week I have been receiving text messages in the name of Republican candidates asking me to donate to their campaigns through a GOP organization. I never consented to these messages. After receiving a message yesterday, I wanted to contact the organization and demand they stop contacting me because replying “STOP” to the texts was not helping.
Difficulty In Defense
Their website had no effective way to contact them that could be easily found. Finally, I found a phone number, email address, and mailing address buried towards the end of their privacy policy. I called the phone number and all I got was someone who kept repeating that if I reply “STOP” the messages will stop. I told him I tried that, but he kept repeating himself. When I asked about other options and discussed that I had not consented, I was ignored. I’m pursuing options for making the harassment stop.
To be real, I know this harassment is so very minor compared to what others face at times. It is still a violation of my rights. I have not consented.
Consent And Individual Rights: Foundational Principles
As we look at proposed changes, individual rights and consent should be the absolute foundation. Consent is a basic, foundational principle. Every change, every policy, every law, every action any of us take, should be based in consent and individual rights. Anything else is inappropriate, unethical, and harmful.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
If you would like to support the Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness Project, please consider contributing to LLPHP via GoFundMe
