The Declaration of Independence says that we believe life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights, and it says "that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." It is not up for debate that being able to feed, house, and maintain the physical health of your family is essential to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Governments are instituted for the purpose of securing these rights--so, these absolutely are issues the government should be involved in. "The consent of the governed" is necessary to decide how it should happen, but that doesn't mean that an inadequate solution should be adopted just because the majority wants to act in its own self-interest. These rights are "unalienable" for all people--not just the ones who make enough money.
This is the balancing act required by a nation like ours: to have pseudo-democracy where the decisions are made by the people (aka the majority), but also to secure certain rights for all citizens, which sometimes means acting against the will of the majority. We have to decide what's more important--our beloved "free market," or the principles of equality and freedom this country was founded on. Some people believe that free market is the embodiment of those principles, but for many people it is actually the means of destroying them. Those people are Americans too.
"Action expresses priorities."
Mahatma Gandhi
They certainly are fundamental human rights, but it doesn't mean that the government has to provide them. Its job is to make sure that its citizens have the opportunity to pursue those things should they so desire, but it the responsibility of the government itself to provide those things.
ReplyDeleteYes--and to have the opportunity of pursuing those things, you need to be able to feed yourself and your family.
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