Let's compare the so-called Second Bill of Rights to the first two amendments of the original Bill of Rights:
The First Amendment guarantees that each Citizen can't be denied Free Speech, but you have to provide your own forum. It guarantees Freedom of the Press, but it's up to you to provide your own printing press. It says you can't be denied the opportunity to worship as you see fit, but it doesn't build a house of worship for you, or even provide you with the property to build upon.
The Second Amendment guarantees each Citizen the right to keep and bear arms, but it doesn't buy the weapon for you.
In short, the Bill of Rights restricts the government from denying citizens their liberties, but it doesn't pay for those liberties.
Now let's examine each point of the Second Bill of Rights in light of the original Bill of Rights:
Every American has the right to:
1. A job. Since the Civil Rights Act already insures that a person can't be discriminated against in the workplace based on race, color, creed, sex or national origin, I take this to mean that no one can be denied a job by virtue of the fact that he or she isn't a union member. If so, I agree. But it's up to each individual to prepare himself adequately for that job, find the job, and keep the job through his or her own hard work.
2. An adequate wage and decent living. I take this to mean that no one can be denied earning as much as he or she deems adequate. If that means no caps on salary, then I agree. If it means getting paid more than your work is worth, then not so much.
3. A decent home. Again, no one should be told he or she can't buy the home of their dreams in whatever neighborhood they choose - if they can afford it. The Civil Rights Act went a long ways toward insuring that right. But like a "decent" living, a "decent" home presupposes a decent amount of work in a job that contributes a decent amount of value to the economy and a decent amount of savings to insure the lender that they won't be left holding the bag.
4. Medical care. I think of Dr. Charles Drew, the African-American physician who discovered blood plasma. He was denied emergency care after a car accident and bled to death. No one should be denied life saving care, but they shouldn't be restricted from obtaining the best treatment they can afford. And if they want elective treatment, it's up to the individual to pay for it, either out of pocket, through a medical savings account, or through a medical insurance policy of their own choosing.
5. Economic protection during sickness, accident, old age or unemployment. How do you define "protection"? If it means the government provides a portion of a person's income under these circumstances, I agree. But each individual has an obligation, to himself, his family and society, to protect himself as much as possible by socking away a little of his own money, month by month, while he's still able bodied, for the inevitability of sickness, accident, old age and unemployment. (I'd have said "himself or herself, etc., but that would have gotten too wordy. You get my point.)
6. A good education. I agree that all Americans not only have a right, but an obligation, to stay in high school all the way through to graduation with no unexcused absences, and to bust hump to get the highest grades possible. If their parents haven't been responsible enough to sock away money for their education, or if their grades don't entitle them to a scholarship, then they can live at home while they attend a local community college to get those grades up high enough to qualify. If all else fails, they can join the military and recieve a very lucrative GI Bill (How do you suppose I was able to afford two Master's degrees?). But if they decide to major in gender studies or sociology instead of computer science or engineering, they shouldn't whine about not being able to find a job in their chosen field of study. I majored in German (not excatly the most marketable field in the world), but when I couldn't find a job as a teacher, I joined the Army and used my language skills in military intelligence for 20 years.
Bottom line: No one should be denied the right to find their own niche. The world owes each of us a living, but it's up to each one of us to go out and find it.
ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. And neither will racist,homophobic, or misogynistic comments. I do not mind if you disagree, but make your case in a decent manner.
perfect
ReplyDeleteLet's compare the so-called Second Bill of Rights to the first two amendments of the original Bill of Rights:
ReplyDeleteThe First Amendment guarantees that each Citizen can't be denied Free Speech, but you have to provide your own forum. It guarantees Freedom of the Press, but it's up to you to provide your own printing press. It says you can't be denied the opportunity to worship as you see fit, but it doesn't build a house of worship for you, or even provide you with the property to build upon.
The Second Amendment guarantees each Citizen the right to keep and bear arms, but it doesn't buy the weapon for you.
In short, the Bill of Rights restricts the government from denying citizens their liberties, but it doesn't pay for those liberties.
(cont'd)
Now let's examine each point of the Second Bill of Rights in light of the original Bill of Rights:
ReplyDeleteEvery American has the right to:
1. A job. Since the Civil Rights Act already insures that a person can't be discriminated against in the workplace based on race, color, creed, sex or national origin, I take this to mean that no one can be denied a job by virtue of the fact that he or she isn't a union member. If so, I agree. But it's up to each individual to prepare himself adequately for that job, find the job, and keep the job through his or her own hard work.
2. An adequate wage and decent living. I take this to mean that no one can be denied earning as much as he or she deems adequate. If that means no caps on salary, then I agree. If it means getting paid more than your work is worth, then not so much.
3. A decent home. Again, no one should be told he or she can't buy the home of their dreams in whatever neighborhood they choose - if they can afford it. The Civil Rights Act went a long ways toward insuring that right. But like a "decent" living, a "decent" home presupposes a decent amount of work in a job that contributes a decent amount of value to the economy and a decent amount of savings to insure the lender that they won't be left holding the bag.
4. Medical care. I think of Dr. Charles Drew, the African-American physician who discovered blood plasma. He was denied emergency care after a car accident and bled to death. No one should be denied life saving care, but they shouldn't be restricted from obtaining the best treatment they can afford. And if they want elective treatment, it's up to the individual to pay for it, either out of pocket, through a medical savings account, or through a medical insurance policy of their own choosing.
(Cont'd)
5. Economic protection during sickness, accident, old age or unemployment. How do you define "protection"? If it means the government provides a portion of a person's income under these circumstances, I agree. But each individual has an obligation, to himself, his family and society, to protect himself as much as possible by socking away a little of his own money, month by month, while he's still able bodied, for the inevitability of sickness, accident, old age and unemployment. (I'd have said "himself or herself, etc., but that would have gotten too wordy. You get my point.)
ReplyDelete6. A good education. I agree that all Americans not only have a right, but an obligation, to stay in high school all the way through to graduation with no unexcused absences, and to bust hump to get the highest grades possible. If their parents haven't been responsible enough to sock away money for their education, or if their grades don't entitle them to a scholarship, then they can live at home while they attend a local community college to get those grades up high enough to qualify. If all else fails, they can join the military and recieve a very lucrative GI Bill (How do you suppose I was able to afford two Master's degrees?). But if they decide to major in gender studies or sociology instead of computer science or engineering, they shouldn't whine about not being able to find a job in their chosen field of study. I majored in German (not excatly the most marketable field in the world), but when I couldn't find a job as a teacher, I joined the Army and used my language skills in military intelligence for 20 years.
Bottom line: No one should be denied the right to find their own niche. The world owes each of us a living, but it's up to each one of us to go out and find it.