I have always felt that anything a individual is CAPABLE of doing for them selves in the way of providing food, housing, education and health care for them selves and their dependents then that is their responsibility and not SOCIETY'S. I have never felt that people are born with a Inherent Right to any of the above. Education as currently provided by the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM is a PRIVILEGE due to the fact it is paid for by others via taxes. Obviously there are people that because of mental or physical limitations cannot do for them selves or dependents and should be assisted, but that is a PRIVILEGE . I disagree with any of those who say the above are rights. There was a time when health care was the exclusive responsibility of the individual and was paid for out of pocket or via insurance. It was the government and it's policies that must bear the blame for driving up the cost of medical care INCLUDING PHARMA & INSURANCE in a attempt to be all things to all people and garner their VOTE. College & University above the 12th year is a PRIVILEGE and should not be a right. A JOB is not a right nor is a guaranteed hourly or annual wage.
@Lon Tanner I gotta say, Lon, that over my entire lifetime I've stewed over the "privileges" bestowed upon us by the "powers that be", such as privilege to vote, to have and use a motor vehicle, to own a home, to move about freely, unmolested (by govt), ownership of private property deemed "not ownable", again by govt, like machineguns, registration of many usages by govt, and on and on. Most always, failure to comply results in a "fine" imposed, monetary subservience. Almost every single one of these govt imposed regulations can easily be designated "taxation". Forbidden by our dissolving Constitution. Frank
Everything 'given us is a carrot for a vote. Governments give nothing, they take our money and distribute our money to serve them and socialistic goals. When some right is given someone must pay.
@Kalvin Mitnic What a well-timed, well-oiled, and well-received response! I shall now likely try to un-do all the derog I have bestowed on you! Thank you! Frank
President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" plans, a direct extension of Roosevelt's "New Deal" was in many ways the precursor for the modern day onslaught of our individual and group rights. If perchance a poll was taken concerning the contents of Lyndon's great society initiatives, I'm sure the majority would only recall the food stamp program and the civil rights bill and little more. In fact, Lyndon and his majority democrat congress enacted 3 civil rights bills, the food stamp program and started into motion initiatives that would affect our educational system, health care, environment, Dept. of the Interior, wages, corporate and individual taxation and the list goes on. In essence, his Great Society was nothing more than a way of folding the U.S. citizen into the grand realm of government controlled socialism. While a new set of privileges as a provisional loan is handed to the American citizenry with an enforceable right (civil rights) thrown in the mix, politicians are learning more each day how to better control the God given rights sited in our constitution. For each new bone the government gives, a pound of meat is expected. Since it is impossible to extract something from nothing, a piece of freedom acts as a substitutionary piece of collateral.
It seems that the public has bought into the ploy used and deem anything 'given' by the government is at no cost. Apparently (they think) the money comes from the great purse in the sky. Not to ignore that any new social scheme requires a new bureaucracy and more government heads and staff, staff and more staff. More opportunity for graft as well. BTW I saw the film on Lyndon, made him out a martyr.[/QUOTE]
It seems to me that only the rich or poor benefit from rights and privilege, and that leaves those in between to pay for them. I know this isn't totally true, but many earn too little or too much to qualify for either. But on the other hand, I don't know of any other country that would offer me as much as this country does.
I agree to some degree. But, for the person, who actually gives a hard days work, for the person who strives to be honest and forthright in all moral, legal and social situations.... why be it, that They can not even attain the most simplest of assistance when in great need- because the other jerk waters have used and abused the system that was intended to aid when necessary?
All well and good, but then when any public supported agency or (call it what it is) charity,when the tax payers pay the price there must be controls that minimize or eliminate abuse. We know full well that any welfare or social assistance or insurance or workers comp etc. will be abused yet controls are seldom put in place for due diligence by administrators. Administrators who by the way are too often complicit. Offender seldom get more than a slap on the wrist and who pays, working people do. The best deterrent for fraud is well publicized penalties for the abusers.
Lon, if there is a fire at your nice apartment complex, then put it out yourself. Why use the privilege of calling a fire department? You can take care of everything yourself of coarse. I can't comprehend why property is a right and healthcare is a privilege. A national health program is not free. Everyone pays into it. I've worked all my life. No welfare in my family. Health care is a big worry for me if something did happen. I'm will to pay but I want it available no matter what my work status is. Full or part time.