[pp.int.general] purpose of manifesto

[Richard M Stallman]

    The underlying principle is that a government must be 
    reliable. If and when it grants rights (or "recognises natural rights", for 
    those who like that concept - not you, I gather), the rights owners must be 
    able to depend on it.

This is a valid principle, within the range of government actions that
are tolerable.  The principle is not valid in regard to unjust
privileges.

The ancien regime in France established many such privileges.  Nobles
had power over commoners, which they could buy and sell.  Public
offices were property, so if the King wanted to remove someone from
office, he had to reimburse what he had paid for his office.  The
revolution abolished this system, giving the owners of privileges no
compensation.  That was necessary.

Please stop citing this principle as if it were morally valid.