What is a right?

Avast! I’m here to argue with Old Mexican. Here’s the beginning of our talk (about halfway down), if you care to know…

Great example. It helps to point out that I don’t need the right to object in order to object.

If they don’t impede action, then what is their purpose?

No, there are lots of reasons why I don’t murder people. Although I can guarantee that “humans have a right to live” is not one of them. See, rights are at best irrelevant (and unless you have a completely ideologically homogenous population open the door for Leviathan), and at worst, don’t exist except as wheels in your head.