Bogus rights

Townhall.com ^ | Feb 8, 2006 | by Walter E. Williams

[.cnI redruM]

>>>The way our Constitution's framers used the term, a right is something that exists simultaneously among people and imposes no obligation on another.

That would end class warfare, and about 75% of the other crap Congress foists on us.

[.cnI redruM]

For some reason this reminds me of HRC saying "We are going to take things away from you for your own good."

[joebuck]

Anything that requires the largess or services of another is not a right.

[generally]

Excellent article. Do you think it will do any good? This has seemed obvious to hardworking people everywhere, but the slackers just don't seem to get it. Their lack of "rights" are all the fault of those mean conservatives.

[.cnI redruM]

Not only that, but there is this 13th Amendment that says a thing or two about involuntary servitude...

[.cnI redruM]

>>>but the slackers just don't seem to get it.


Slackers get it really fast after they've been off the dole a month or two. It takes an iron hand to teach self reliance.

[Condor51]

I've been arguing a similar point for some time.

If abortion is a 'right' and "we" are forced to pay for people to exercise that 'right' under welfare and Medicaid - which we are and do. How come the gubmint isn't required to buy me, or any one, a firearm I (we) can't afford?

Under the abortion right we pay logic, any poor person should be able to walk into any gun shop, pick out a weapon and say, "send the bill to Uncle Sam".

And just like abortion there should be NO LIMIT on how many rimes we exercise that 'right'.

I'd send this question to my senators but they're Durbin and Obama. Hey.. maybe I will just because they are ;-)

[SR 50]

ping

[NaughtiusMaximus]

My favorite was some ditz the other day who I heard ranting about "my right to relax."

There's a Constitutional guarantee for you.

[.cnI redruM]

Hell, I'll by him a zoloft if he'll just his frikkin' garbage neck.

[RipSawyer]

The real tragedy for our nation is that any politician who holds the values of liberty that our founders held would be soundly defeated in today's political arena.>>>>>>>>>>>>


That is why I don't run for office 8 0 ) I believe that most of the federal government should be dismantled as it never should have existed in the first place. I maintain, without fear of contradiction, that it is impossible to be a law-abiding citizen in the United States as it exists today.

[308MBR]

Good idea. Personally, I could use another car to help me with my "freedom of travel".

[MamaTexan]

By contrast, we don't have a natural right to take the property of one person to give to another; therefore, we cannot legitimately delegate such authority to government.

And the Honorable Mr. Williams hits yet another one clean out of the park!

The truly sad thing is that many people (including FReepers) don't understand the system of our laws and wouldn't know the legal meaning of the words 'natural right' if it bit them on the arse.

[Straight8]

Imho, W.E.W. is one of the most intelligent and rational people on this planet. And he nails it again.

[dljordan]

"My favorite was some ditz the other day who I heard ranting about "my right to relax."

There was a guy on the radio here yesterday talking about the "right" to free housing. He's a member of some hippy group that squats on other peoples property and thinks it's ok. They don't work and dumpster dive for food.

It brought home to me just how different some people are. I've been working since I was 16 and I'm 55 now. These peeps have NEVER worked and don't intend to. I just couldn't get my mind around it. Perhaps it's just my limited intellect.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

The way I see it there are two "jobs" in life. The first one is wresting out your slice of the world's pie. The second is defending your slice against those who want "just a little shive off the edge there." You have to learn to loudly and assertively say "NO" to the politicians in the silk suits and the hippies, like the ones you mention, in the ratty blue jeans. If you don't learn how to do this you end up pushing a "Winobago" shopping cart down Broadway, despised by all.

[antiRepublicrat]

Do people have a right to medical treatment whether or not they can pay? What about a right to food or decent housing?

No, but any decent society should give a hand to those in need. The problem is, of course, the mechanism: a bloated federal social system that encourages people to remain in need, or localized systems meant to get people back on their feet.

[antiRepublicrat]

redrum, redrum, redrum...

[IronJack]

In a land of plenty, it is a tragedy that any American should go unfed, unsheltered, or untreated. We have adequate resources to ensure that some minimal level of sustenance is provided for every soul in this country.

That said, we are under no OBLIGATION to do so. Subsistence-level support is a luxury the hard work of its people allows this country to provide, even to those who may not deserve it. The people who do the work are the ones who SHOULD determine who qualifies for their support, and at what level. Those decisions should NOT be made by the recipients of the largesse. And every one of those offerings should be suspendable at will. They are not rights, but favors.

Contrast that with rights granted by God and guaranteed us as a birthright.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>They are not rights, but favors.

I wish we could make The Prescription Drug Panderation Act a favor. Medicare as well. Our current entitlement system will eventually kill this country.