Which right is right?
About rights. I had a recent discussion about rights. I know that I have written on this subject before, but I think it is a subject that one can't reinforce enough.
If something requires someone else to act, it is not a right.
You have a right to live. You do NOT have the right to demand that someone feed you, and clothe you, or provide shelter. Obviously not referring to a parent and adolescent, or younger child relationship. The parent chose an action that resulted in the child. A child is entitled to its parent's support. If the action was not intentional, then adoption is certainly a solution. I think that an argument could be made that the devaluing of unborn life in this country has had a terrible impact on our society as a whole, drawing a sharp line between those who believe in the right to Life, and those who don't. But this post isn't about abortion.
You have a right to access whatever healthcare you can afford. You do NOT have a right to demand to be treated, or to demand that someone pay for your treatment. Our society has set it up where no one can be denied lifesaving care. That is an entitlement. If there is no ER, or other Doctor to treat you, then what happens to your right then? See?
You have a right to learn, but not an education. Perfect example of education's entitlement status? How education, by and large, is viewed by students, and parents. Ask any teacher about how much support kids get from home. An inner city school? Ask the teachers if education is "cool"?
You have a right to own property. In fact, one of the first drafts of the Declaration stated, Life, Liberty, and Property. Why was it changed to Pursuit of Happiness? Thomas Jefferson, and others, who loathed slavery, knew that if Property were guaranteed in the Declaration, it would be nearly impossible for slavery to be ended at some point in the future. If you think that Thomas Jefferson and others didn't struggle with the contradiction of slavery and all men being created equal, you are wrong. Did you live in 1776? Different times. Different world.
You have a right to liberty, within the legal construct. However, the legal structure of this country today has created a maze of uncertainty as to what is legal, and what isn't. When laws are legion, and no one can know them all, then law ceases to be law.
Government is intended to protect those rights. It works when laws are few, and well defined. When it gets too big, then the rights of liberty, life, and property cease to exist. Can you say EPA, NSA, DEA, IRS? Just a few of the groups that trade and deal for those rights. Picking winners and losers.
President Obama, while as a Community Organizer, commented that the Constitution was a series of negative rights. He is right about that, in that the Constitution protects individual rights from the government. He then went on to say that the Warren court, didn't go far enough. The Community Organizer went on to explain that basic ENTITLEMENTS be rights, which he referred to as positive rights Rights like education, healthcare, food, living wage, a roof over your head. These are not rights. They require input from someone else to provide it. They require property to be TAKEN by force from some, and given to others. Taking the rights of some citizens to provide entitlements for others. Because by taking property, you are taking rights.
I had so many more things to talk about, but another day.
If something requires someone else to act, it is not a right.
You have a right to live. You do NOT have the right to demand that someone feed you, and clothe you, or provide shelter. Obviously not referring to a parent and adolescent, or younger child relationship. The parent chose an action that resulted in the child. A child is entitled to its parent's support. If the action was not intentional, then adoption is certainly a solution. I think that an argument could be made that the devaluing of unborn life in this country has had a terrible impact on our society as a whole, drawing a sharp line between those who believe in the right to Life, and those who don't. But this post isn't about abortion.
You have a right to access whatever healthcare you can afford. You do NOT have a right to demand to be treated, or to demand that someone pay for your treatment. Our society has set it up where no one can be denied lifesaving care. That is an entitlement. If there is no ER, or other Doctor to treat you, then what happens to your right then? See?
You have a right to learn, but not an education. Perfect example of education's entitlement status? How education, by and large, is viewed by students, and parents. Ask any teacher about how much support kids get from home. An inner city school? Ask the teachers if education is "cool"?
You have a right to own property. In fact, one of the first drafts of the Declaration stated, Life, Liberty, and Property. Why was it changed to Pursuit of Happiness? Thomas Jefferson, and others, who loathed slavery, knew that if Property were guaranteed in the Declaration, it would be nearly impossible for slavery to be ended at some point in the future. If you think that Thomas Jefferson and others didn't struggle with the contradiction of slavery and all men being created equal, you are wrong. Did you live in 1776? Different times. Different world.
You have a right to liberty, within the legal construct. However, the legal structure of this country today has created a maze of uncertainty as to what is legal, and what isn't. When laws are legion, and no one can know them all, then law ceases to be law.
Government is intended to protect those rights. It works when laws are few, and well defined. When it gets too big, then the rights of liberty, life, and property cease to exist. Can you say EPA, NSA, DEA, IRS? Just a few of the groups that trade and deal for those rights. Picking winners and losers.
President Obama, while as a Community Organizer, commented that the Constitution was a series of negative rights. He is right about that, in that the Constitution protects individual rights from the government. He then went on to say that the Warren court, didn't go far enough. The Community Organizer went on to explain that basic ENTITLEMENTS be rights, which he referred to as positive rights Rights like education, healthcare, food, living wage, a roof over your head. These are not rights. They require input from someone else to provide it. They require property to be TAKEN by force from some, and given to others. Taking the rights of some citizens to provide entitlements for others. Because by taking property, you are taking rights.
I had so many more things to talk about, but another day.
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