Monday, November 03, 2008

Enough with the entitlement!

We live in a culture and world that is increasingly self-assured of our entitlement. The Right thinks we're entitled to be not only a world power, but the super power. The Left thinks we're entitled to all live comfortably or equally or that we're entitled to equal success in life.

Outrageous! The Declaration of Independence sets forth the idea that we have certain rights that are endowed to us by our Creator. Among these, it lists life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are very very basic. The Bill of Rights sets outs how we protect those basic rights most effectively.

Is health care a right or a privilege? Is Health Care a right? Well, it depends on how you define health care. If it is the level of medical marvels and treatments and technologies that Ted Kennedy and much of this nation have access to, then no, it is not.

Is health care a right or a privilege? Many things in life simply are not our God-given rights. Think about teenagers who consider it their God-given right to drive a car the day they turn 16. This is a privilege. Then we must ask, is health care a privilege? No.

Confused? Of course. Most people are. Is health care a right or a privilege? Health Care is a responsibility. Like many things that we take for granted in this life and must fight for to hang on to, it is a responsibility. It is not our right to be wealthy any more than it is our right to be privileged or born in America or born without illness or handicap. On the contrary, none of those things are guaranteed at all.

What then are we to do if we are born with those privileges, those blessings? We have a responsibility to provide for others. You're born with two good eyes? Part of your responsibility is to help the blind. You're born wealthy? You're responsibility is to do as much with that wealth as you can to help others. You're born in a country in which opportunities for learning and self-education? Your responsibility is to use that to help and teach others, both in your country and in less fortunate countries.

Are you born with wealth and access to health care that is the marvel of the ages? Your responsibility is to help others attain decent health care. This may mean reducing the taxes levied against the poor so they can afford health care. This may mean encouraging the building of schools and hospitals to make health care more accessible and affordable. It need not mean campaigning under the idea that health care is a right. It is a responsibility of those with health care.

Is health care a right or a responsibility? Which is harder maintain? Which is harder to teach? A right can be protected, but can it encouraged? Is it a good idea to encourage something without responsibility? With every right comes a responsibility. Freedom of speech is worthless without the responsibility of disagreement, discourse, respect and sensitivity. Freedom to vote is worthless without the responsibility of citizenship and a watchful eye on politics. Democracy is worthless without the vigilant observations of a nation who elects fallible representatives.

Is health care a right or a privilege? Neither. Thank God for that. It is our responsibility as human beings and children of God to provide loving care for all God's children by finding ways to do that which will succeed, and not merely make us feel better about ourselves.

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