Individual “Rights” come in two forms. There are the rights that are spelled out in the Constitution. A right to bear arms, a right to a fair trial and a right to free speech are just a few of the examples of these rights. These rights, while guaranteed by the Constitution, are time and again “rights” that we have to fight to retain. It seems hardly a month goes by where one or more of our Constitutionally guaranteed rights are assaulted in small and large ways by Congress, the Judiciary, any of a number of interest groups are not comfortable in a free society, or even, the President.
Along with the rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution, there are a whole separate set of “rights” that have been established, not by the Constitution, but by the government. This set of “rights” are no where to be found in the Constitution. This set of “rights” are not even “rights”, at least not if you believe a “right” that you have doesn’t require anyone else to give up something they have. Included in this set of “rights” are; the “right” to an abortion, a “Right” to government provided financial support and a “right” to an equal educational opportunity for every child.
It’s ironic that we have to fight to get the set of rights provided by the Constitution remembered and yet any number of people and groups are happy to increase the number of the unmerited “rights”.
Right now, Congress is debating the addition of another unmerited “right”. While there are numerous rationals for the desire to implement health care reform, the core essence of the Left’s argument is that health care is in fact a right. Can you find it in the Constitution? No. However, the Left is undaunted in this argument and believes “it’s the right thing to do.”
If you think health care as a right is offensive, get ready for the next “right” that is now germinating within the thinking of the Left; a right to housing!
In this video, Raquel Rolnik, a UN “special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing” (think “Special Investigator”), is coming the the US to make a determination about New York and six other cities, affordable housing.
If you have any questions about my concerns regarding housing becoming a focus of “rights”, let’s look at Ms. Rolnik’s own words:
“I am representing the right of adequate housing as a human right.”
In past times a US President would have taken insult in a UN inspector nosing around the US when the UN’s record is one of support for Socialists and Marxists. This time, Rolnik is likely to receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama.
Following her town hall in New Orleans, Ms. Rolnik made the following comments:
“Well, the feeling is that we definitely need to have a discussion, open discussion and re-appraisal of housing policies. I think a lot has been done in this country. This country has a history of intervening in housing sector, of building public housing, or intervening in the homelessness sector on innovating programs like rent subsidizing and other schemes. But in a way I think that was stuck in some point now. And I think the way forward need to be discussed.”
Just what Obama needs, support from the UN to completely take over yet one more industry!
