3 hours ago
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Man's Rights
From the essay "Man's Rights" by Ayn Rand:
Bear clearly in mind the meaning of the concept of “rights” when you read the list which the platform offers:
"1. The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation."
“2. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation.
“3. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living.
“4. The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home and abroad.
“5. The right of every family to a decent home.
“6. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.
“7. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents and unemployment.
“8. The right to a good education.”
A single question added to each of the above eight clauses would make the issue clear: At whose expense?
Jobs, food, clothing, recreation(!), homes, medical care, education, etc., do not grow in nature. These are man-made values—goods and services produced by men. Who is to provide them?
If some men are entitled by right to the products of the work of others, it means that those others are deprived of rights and condemned to slave labor.
Any alleged “right” of one man, which necessitates the violation of the rights of another, is not and cannot be a right.
Bear clearly in mind the meaning of the concept of “rights” when you read the list which the platform offers:
"1. The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation."
“2. The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation.
“3. The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living.
“4. The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home and abroad.
“5. The right of every family to a decent home.
“6. The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.
“7. The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accidents and unemployment.
“8. The right to a good education.”
A single question added to each of the above eight clauses would make the issue clear: At whose expense?
Jobs, food, clothing, recreation(!), homes, medical care, education, etc., do not grow in nature. These are man-made values—goods and services produced by men. Who is to provide them?
If some men are entitled by right to the products of the work of others, it means that those others are deprived of rights and condemned to slave labor.
Any alleged “right” of one man, which necessitates the violation of the rights of another, is not and cannot be a right.
Desperate Times & Desperate Measures
Click image to enlarge.
I guess readership is still declining if they have to resort to this. Next week: fish wrap. Week after: bird cage liner. Thanksgiving weekend edition: wrapping paper.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Open Enrollment
The stack of paperwork I got for open enrollment for the health insurance I purchase through my employer has 37 pages. I can get this coverage without imposing a burden on anybody else. If I decide the coverage sucks, I can go buy it somewhere else. Why is this a problem?
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