Ole!
I wanted to tell the story of Francisco Rivera Perez. He was know as Paquirri, and was a very famous bullfighter in Spain. After recovering from a serious injury, he resumed his career in a pueblo called Pozoblanco, in the province of Cordoba. I remember watching this bullfight, 26 September, 1984, in our landlord's house. It was an unfortunate fight for Paquirri. He was gored in the leg, severing both femoral arteries. It was impressive that he got up and started running, before the bull was detained, and he was carried out of the ring, all on live television. He was put in an ambulance, and died on the way to the nearest hospital. Why do I take a moment to tell this tale?
Francisco Rivera Perez lived in a country where, even back in 1984, health care was a right. And yet, when he needed it most, where was it? In a hospital 50 km away.
This is a perfect example of what I mean when I say health care is NOT a right. If something is dependent on someone else doing something, is it a right? I could go through the Bill of Rights, and demonstrate that a right cannot be given by government, but it can certainly be taken away by same.
The first freedom listed, of religious expression, requires no action by anyone but me. A very fragile right, indeed.
Freedom of the press, or speech. again, requires no action by anyone. Of course it doesn't grant that people will listen, but, at least for now, people can speak as they will.
Public Assembly and Petitioning of government. Do we start to get it? No action required by others,
Bearing arms. If I were to interpret this right in the way progressives interpret rights, the government would not only have to provide a firearm, but ammunition as well.
These are rights that can be taken by government, and frequently are non existent in most countries. The list goes on, but they are all contingent on the government only for securing those rights.
If there is no healthcare around, how do you exercise that right? If you have a right to an education, and there are no schools, or teachers, how do you exercise that right? Can we put this to rest now? If action is required by others for you to exercise your "right", then is it truly a right?
Back to our friend Paquirri. In the infirmary at the bullring, they did not have his blood type on hand to hook up an IV. They didn't want to put a tourniquet on, as he would probably lose his legs. This was the health care provided as a right. He asked his wife, while still about 10 km from the hospital, how much further. When she answered, he told her that he wouldn't make it.
But he had healthcare as a right.
If you want to see the bull winning (my landlord's words) here it is. Content warning. It is graphic, and very real.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwejjdlR4SY
Francisco Rivera Perez lived in a country where, even back in 1984, health care was a right. And yet, when he needed it most, where was it? In a hospital 50 km away.
This is a perfect example of what I mean when I say health care is NOT a right. If something is dependent on someone else doing something, is it a right? I could go through the Bill of Rights, and demonstrate that a right cannot be given by government, but it can certainly be taken away by same.
The first freedom listed, of religious expression, requires no action by anyone but me. A very fragile right, indeed.
Freedom of the press, or speech. again, requires no action by anyone. Of course it doesn't grant that people will listen, but, at least for now, people can speak as they will.
Public Assembly and Petitioning of government. Do we start to get it? No action required by others,
Bearing arms. If I were to interpret this right in the way progressives interpret rights, the government would not only have to provide a firearm, but ammunition as well.
These are rights that can be taken by government, and frequently are non existent in most countries. The list goes on, but they are all contingent on the government only for securing those rights.
If there is no healthcare around, how do you exercise that right? If you have a right to an education, and there are no schools, or teachers, how do you exercise that right? Can we put this to rest now? If action is required by others for you to exercise your "right", then is it truly a right?
Back to our friend Paquirri. In the infirmary at the bullring, they did not have his blood type on hand to hook up an IV. They didn't want to put a tourniquet on, as he would probably lose his legs. This was the health care provided as a right. He asked his wife, while still about 10 km from the hospital, how much further. When she answered, he told her that he wouldn't make it.
But he had healthcare as a right.
If you want to see the bull winning (my landlord's words) here it is. Content warning. It is graphic, and very real.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwejjdlR4SY
Comments
Post a Comment