S
Shai Gar
Their foreign policy consists of making it illegal for other nations to show their own TV shows in front of american ones. And then making those american ones extremely pro-american and xenophobic.
Right or Privilege?
- Thread starter Satya
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I think a lot of people have a skewed idea of what constitutes as a "right" in the American government. A right is not something a person is obligated to have; it is something that they are obligated to freely pursue.
Take the three "big" rights outlined by the American system: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The government does not grant anyone any of these. They do not hand a person happiness. However, they guarantee that they will protect the people from oppressors that would limit the pursuit of these things, and they promise to not oppress these pursuits themselves.
In the long run, though, it's up to the individual to provide these things for themselves. We, as Americans, forget this, since our generation has never actively been oppressed. Some have felt oppression, but that stemmed from situational oppression more than governmental or political oppression.
Now, in the context of healthcare: is health a right or not? Well, yes and no. It is a right to be healthy. However, in that, it's also an obligation of the individual to pursue their own health.
I do believe that translates into the idea that the government should make available healthcare to all those who truly need it. However, I don't believe that means that free healthcare should be given out to anyone that asks for it. It's the government's job to prevent the denial of basic commodities, not to ensure the health of the individuals.
It would be nice if that were the case. But in reality, most real health problems in America stem from the lack of attention to personal health. Americans eat a lot of crap, and they don't take care of themselves as well as they should.
Furthermore, in saying that free healthcare is a universal right, you are also implying, in a way, that it is a universal right to take care of everyone else's health as well. Most people don't see it that way, but it's a side-effect.
So yeah, you do have a right to health. And by that, you have a right to take care of yourself. Most people don't really exercise that right to begin with.
Take the three "big" rights outlined by the American system: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The government does not grant anyone any of these. They do not hand a person happiness. However, they guarantee that they will protect the people from oppressors that would limit the pursuit of these things, and they promise to not oppress these pursuits themselves.
In the long run, though, it's up to the individual to provide these things for themselves. We, as Americans, forget this, since our generation has never actively been oppressed. Some have felt oppression, but that stemmed from situational oppression more than governmental or political oppression.
Now, in the context of healthcare: is health a right or not? Well, yes and no. It is a right to be healthy. However, in that, it's also an obligation of the individual to pursue their own health.
I do believe that translates into the idea that the government should make available healthcare to all those who truly need it. However, I don't believe that means that free healthcare should be given out to anyone that asks for it. It's the government's job to prevent the denial of basic commodities, not to ensure the health of the individuals.
It would be nice if that were the case. But in reality, most real health problems in America stem from the lack of attention to personal health. Americans eat a lot of crap, and they don't take care of themselves as well as they should.
Furthermore, in saying that free healthcare is a universal right, you are also implying, in a way, that it is a universal right to take care of everyone else's health as well. Most people don't see it that way, but it's a side-effect.
So yeah, you do have a right to health. And by that, you have a right to take care of yourself. Most people don't really exercise that right to begin with.
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I think the needs of people should be more family-based than government-based. I hear stories of old times in this country when neighbors helped each other through bad times. Everyone showed up to help rebuild this family's barn. Everyone showed up to help this family's needs when the crops were ready in the field and the man of the house ill. Back then, was it a right or privilege to receive help from others? Maybe it was neither?
Of course, times have changed and the few have become the many. Those that prayed for rain have been replaced by those seeking government funds when bad times cause damage to their crops. The more government offers the less people offer, even though the gov may mean well and it may wash itself to be similar in the end. However, there is an element missing.
Of course, times have changed and the few have become the many. Those that prayed for rain have been replaced by those seeking government funds when bad times cause damage to their crops. The more government offers the less people offer, even though the gov may mean well and it may wash itself to be similar in the end. However, there is an element missing.
There was a time in America where the line "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!" was received with such riotous applause that it became immortal. If Obama said that today, it would be "further evidence of his radical socialism".
The socialist version of that quote would mention countrymen, not "country." As it was, it strikes me as more of a nationalistic sentiment.
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Agreed, and I would think most liberals would be turned off by it actually (I know I am, that statement leaves a really sour taste in my stomach).
Its because Americans in general are spoiled babies. and 99% of them don't take advantage of the greatness the nation has to offer them. What kills me is when they bitch and moan about Asians or Africans or Europeans coming over and making millions of dollars with some hustle. Maybe those foreigners saw something most Americans didn't realize they always had.. OPPORTUNITY.
BS, if Obama came out ans started saying the same thing and he meant it in a vein of you need to all be self reliant the way JFK did we would all be like holy hell this guy is alright! If he DID say it though he would mean it in an actual socialist way as in, how much tax can you give up for your country. Which IS radical socialism in that case.
...and so is the way of the times, while old ideals become buried into the past. Throw a little dirt over them and move on....
The mindset of the people toward gov dependency vs helping others has changed. That is the point I wanted to share.
People used to come to the needs of others willingly and happily.
"Joe's barn burned down and winter is coming. Let's all pitch in and rebuild him a barn." years ago
"Joe's crops are ready for harvest and he is sick. Let's all take two days off and harvest his crops for him." years ago
It spread from the family throughout the community many times through church, which was a general meeting place when problems came.
It may possibly be in a way just the rush of daily life because of the multitudes of today. Quality of living defines itself with different meanings as the masses take place of the few. As the people stopped doing what they did, the gov tried to fulfill the needs with taxes and programs. The "something missing" is evident around us. We don't need blame or guilt. We need to look back a moment and discern what is missing, grasp it, and taste of it.....or we can further bury it with the ways of the times. It is the heart of man that has degenerated, leading to a mindset of the maelstrom.
The mindset of the people toward gov dependency vs helping others has changed. That is the point I wanted to share.
People used to come to the needs of others willingly and happily.
"Joe's barn burned down and winter is coming. Let's all pitch in and rebuild him a barn." years ago
"Joe's crops are ready for harvest and he is sick. Let's all take two days off and harvest his crops for him." years ago
It spread from the family throughout the community many times through church, which was a general meeting place when problems came.
It may possibly be in a way just the rush of daily life because of the multitudes of today. Quality of living defines itself with different meanings as the masses take place of the few. As the people stopped doing what they did, the gov tried to fulfill the needs with taxes and programs. The "something missing" is evident around us. We don't need blame or guilt. We need to look back a moment and discern what is missing, grasp it, and taste of it.....or we can further bury it with the ways of the times. It is the heart of man that has degenerated, leading to a mindset of the maelstrom.