Rights and Protections

A side issue in the debate over at TwoBabes about the role of the federal government is a bit about what sorts of "rights" and "protections" the federal government ought to guarentee. One of the more liberal regulars over there goes by the name of HC Steve (HC stands for Hard Core). HC says:

Here is a partial list of the Protections.

Right to a good education.
Right to a job that earns a living wage.
Right to Health Care.
Right to vote.
Right to live free of crime.
Right to live free of threats abroad.

I think you get the point.

Now this is a treasure trove for a guy like me... Let's break this down a bit, shall we...

Right to a good education.

One must assume, then, that this good liberal supports vouchers...because in order to have the choice for the best education, somebody has to pony up the cashola and private schools should be an option.

Right to a job that earns a living wage.

This is all about the minimum wage. We have the richest poor people on the planet. Could we do better? Sure. But honestly, the sort of redistribution of wealth that would placate my good friend here would turn us in to socialists. No thanks...

Right to Health Care.

This is a pipedream. Like education and employment...(and the rest of the items except one on this list for that matter), you can't find this stuff in the Constitution. And with such a right comes great responsibility...would the government get to dictate what we eat? How does the government get the most bang for its buck?

Right to vote.

I'm with you here...and I don't see anybody who has the right to vote having that right taken away. Felons give up that right when they are convicted. Illegal immigrants aren't citizens and shouldn't have a vote anyway.

Right to live free of crime.

Even in a police state, a government can't guarentee this...

Right to live free of threats abroad.

And the only way to guarentee this, you have to support the government engaging in pre-emptive strikes against our potential enemies.

Yeah. I get the point. For a liberal, you sure are conflicted.