2nd Bill of Rights

[Tex]

Obama's socialist income redistribution inclinations have brought up fresh discussion of FDR's "Second Bill of Rights." Here's a nice liberal Rorshach test: which of these do you agree ought to be added to the Constitution?

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

[BlueK]

Originally Posted by Tex

Obama's socialist income redistribution inclinations have brought up fresh discussion of FDR's "Second Bill of Rights." Here's a nice liberal Rorshach test: which of these do you agree ought to be added to the Constitution?

none of them

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by BlueK

none of them

agreed.

[Tex]

No takers from any Democrats/Obama voters? Not even the right to medical care or education?

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Tex

No takers from any Democrats/Obama voters? Not even the right to medical care or education?

I don't know that any of them need to be added to the Constitution, particularly because several provisions of the Constitution would already protect many of those rights. I think Americans can and do have the right to a good education and access to healthcare. As a nation, we are failing in both of those regards with respect to many Americans. Adding those provisions to the Constitution isn't the answer that will fix those problems. Better policies that keep those rights in mind are.

About your definition of socialism...

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I don't know that any of them need to be added to the Constitution, particularly because several provisions of the Constitution would already protect many of those rights. I think Americans can and do have the right to a good education and access to healthcare. As a nation, we are failing in both of those regards with respect to many Americans. Adding those provisions to the Constitution isn't the answer that will fix those problems. Better policies that keep those rights in mind are.

Interesting ... so your opinion is, those things are already in there and an amendment would be redundant?

Care to point out where the Constitution guarantees the right to a good education, and the right to health care?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Originally Posted by Tex

Obama's socialist income redistribution inclinations have brought up fresh discussion of FDR's "Second Bill of Rights." Here's a nice liberal Rorshach test: which of these do you agree ought to be added to the Constitution?

As I recall (from history classes, not the '30s news reports, so back away from the keyboard Archaea), FDR never recommended that those be added to the Constitution. Certainly I don't. I'm also very irritated by any discussion of "rights", in part because I don't think that word means what lots of people think it means.

Our society should enable people to obtain all of those things; it doesn't mean they should be handed to them.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

Our society should enable people to obtain all of those things; it doesn't mean they should be handed to them.

Our society does provide the ability for citizens to obtain those things - if they are willing to work for them.

There are those who have more difficulty in obtaining those things, but the opportunity is always there.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Tex

Interesting ... so your opinion is, those things are already in there and an amendment would be redundant?

Care to point out where the Constitution guarantees the right to a good education, and the right to health care?

All of the states offer public education, which opens the door for government regulation of education, most specifically through anti-discrimination provisions. The same result is arrived at through a round about way.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

As I recall (from history classes, not the '30s news reports, so back away from the keyboard Archaea), FDR never recommended that those be added to the Constitution. Certainly I don't. I'm also very irritated by any discussion of "rights", in part because I don't think that word means what lots of people think it means.

Our society should enable people to obtain all of those things; it doesn't mean they should be handed to them.

I don't know how serious he was about them, or how far along any of them actually made it, but they were listed in his 1944 State of the Union address.

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

All of the states offer public education, which opens the door for government regulation of education, most specifically through anti-discrimination provisions. The same result is arrived at through a round about way.

I'm not talking about result, I'm talking about rights. I'm sure you know that just because gov't offers something doesn't mean it's a right (i.e., it can be taken away).

Do you or do you not believe the Constitution currently guarantees a right to education and medical care (or anything else on FDR's list), and if not, should it?