Nearly 50 million Americans are currently without health insurance, and many with insurance are still struggling to pay their medical bills. Everyone agrees that healthcare should be accessible to all, but the debate still rages on as to whether a universal system would be a wise or realistic solution. Is universal healthcare the remedy for what ails America?
Rights are freedoms of action, such as the right to free speech or the right to contract, not automatic claims on good or services that must be produced by other. Rights thus impose only negative obligations on others -- my right to free speech means that my neighbor (or the government) cannot stop me. If my neighbor leaves me in peace, then he has not violated my rights.
There can be no such thing as a "right" to a good or service that must be produced by another -- that's just a form of state-sanctioned theft or slavery.
The American Founders recognized this crucial principle when they spoke of our rights to "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness". We have the right to pursue the goods and services we need, such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. Those are genuine needs of human survival. But we cannot demand that others produce them for us as a matter of "right" -- such a demand necessarily violates the actual rights of those who must produce them.
Next Argument
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Expert Verified
Link
