History shows us that civil rights can exist as nothing more than legal fiction. Take, for example, the right to vote. Although suffrage was extended to African-Americans under the Constitution in 1870, that right was little more than a nice idea until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With many activists and politicians calling for America to recognize the “right” to health care, it is well worth looking at what this means. Making promises that cannot be met is a betrayal of the public trust, and the integrity of the government depends on its ability to hold to its word. In many other economically-developed countries, the “right” to health care coverage exists, and nearly everyone is enrolled in some sort of insurance or public plan. Unfortunately, coverage is not the same as health care procedures. Many governments insure nearly everyone, but cannot deliver the health care that those insured people need. These governments leave a broken promise in the place of the right that exists in their laws.
Posts tagged with: promises
In the Last Week
- The New Legalism: Missional, Radical, Narcissistic, and Shamed (1,389 views)
by Anthony Bradley - One Man's Great Escape from North Korea (504 views)
by Ray Nothstine - Should We Be Eating More Bugs? (450 views)
by Joe Carter - Obama Administration Orders Colleges to Implement Unconstitutional Speech Codes (341 views)
by Joe Carter - What's a Few Dead Eagles Between Friends? (299 views)
by Joe Carter
- Acton Commentary (256)
- Acton Media (76)
- Acton University (46)
- Bible and Theology (575)
- Christian Social Thought (242)
- Economic Freedom (69)
- Economics (102)
- General (583)
- Individual Liberty (163)
- Interviews (25)
- News and Events (2305)
- On Call in Culture (50)
- Poverty (114)
- PowerBlog Ramblings (53)
- PowerLinks (114)
- Programs (64)
- Public Policy (2052)
- Publications (212)
- Religious Liberty (31)
- Shareholder Activism (3)
- Shareholder Proxy Resolutions (3)
- Technology (15)
- Vatican (225)
- Virtue (47)
- Vocation (2)