Health Care as a Right

Much has been made of the concept of health care as a "right." This is an emotionally charged issue because it seems to imply that, if it is a right, then we must follow a certain course of action, such as a national health care plan. If we have a right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," then denying someone health care might certainly lead to loss of life.

However, if health care is a right, then so are food, clothing and shelter. Yet there is no outcry to nationalize agriculture, even though some people go hungry and some eat too much. But, we do have the FDA and package labelling.

There is no call for a national panel of experts to decide which style will be in fashion this year or what Donna Karan can charge for a dress. But, we do have content, country of origin and care instruction labelling.

There is no proposal to nationalize the construction industry even though some people are homeless and the housing bubble set off our current economic crisis. But we do have Section 8 housing and building codes.

Although we usually think of our rights as "inalienable" or "God given" or "self evident," in reality each right is relative to all other rights. Simply labelling something does not either compel or preclude a certain course of action. After all, you don't have the right to tax me so that you can pursue happiness.