It seems everywhere we look angry protesters of all sorts have axes to grind at the expense of others. A Columbian front page article (“Supporters rally in defense of Affordable Care Act,” Feb. 26) recently referred to health care as a human right. It’s been awhile since I read the U.S. Constitution so I went back to double-check. Free speech? Got it. Freedom of the press? Certainly, though it’s often abused. Freedom to assemble peaceably? Check. Right to a speedy trial? OK, though lawyers disagree.
I may have missed it but I did not see that health care was a right bestowed on U.S. citizens. Of course also missing are the rights to receive welfare payments, unemployment benefits and myriad other entitlements as government handouts. I’m not saying these are bad things. Most were granted for humane reasons. But let’s be clear on the difference between a constitutional right and an entitlement.
The Constitution states that certain rights are granted only if “the rights of others are not violated.” How is taking money from some people who’ve earned it and arbitrarily giving is to others who haven’t not a violation of the rights of the former group? Many protesters need to read the Constitution and stop the madness!
