Hinderaker is correct, insofar as he points out that virtually no other governmental founding documents (on Earth) lead with the phrase “and the pursuit of happiness”. But ours… does.

He highlights self determination as the primary value (meaning capitalistic business endeavors, in the main) animating that phrase.

I might also highlight the right to be left alone. So long as I am with consenting adults, I am free to do whatever I would like to do — that does not unduly injure the rights of any another.

That is, in America, we are free to pursue happiness as we see it – love who we love, live with whomever, and wherever, we prefer — and not have repressive MAGA morons trying to tell us that we must espouse false histories — or any X-tian “god” — in order to be “real” Americans.

In sum, I think John gets the import of the phrase… precisely backward.

But that too is the beauty of America: he can believe whatever chuckle-headed nonsense he likes.

The only time it will become important (to me) is when he tries to impose it upon me.

Then I will see him — and his fellow miscreants — in court.

Out.