Very funny.

When you think of "core" think of just one or two that matter the most to life. Otherwise, you get caught up in changing superficials. Core values are those that don't change. And of course they exist, inside each and every one of us.

Something like "all humans have the same rights"?

I think what Roberts is saying is in a zero sum mindset, rights are reserved for a select number of individuals who deserve them according to some value system and pecking order, and when some people lose rights, it’s good as long as it’s not you; because rights must not be wasted.

Too many of us assume the word “right” is universally understood to mean “what all people must have” and that there’s some tacit understanding everyone respects or even knows about at all. There is no authority that grants us all rights if we are not that authority ourselves.

I'm training myself not to use the word "right", as much as possible: It has too many meanings, therefore is too easily misunderstood. I seek to use a more accurate word to use in its place. Not always easy when part of one's poor memory recall involves vocabulary, but worth the effort anyway.

Yeah I get that. I still think your observation that we cant agree on core values is bang on. The subsequent description of "core" didn't appear to change that observation