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According to George Mason Economics Professor Walter Williams, a right is something that exists for every individual and only requires that others not restrict it. In a recent World Net Daily article, Mr. Williams said many people confuse their rights with their wishes. They are two different things. Do we have a right to housing, health care, food, jobs, and prescription drugs?
Consider my right to free speech as outlined in The First Amendment. Should my right to free speech require you to pay for my newspaper and television ads, air fare, meeting rooms, sound trucks, lighting systems, and video tape production? Most people would agree that, as long as you don’t restrict my right to free speech, you don’t have any obligation to subsidize or support it.
Each of us has the right to defend ourselves against predators. We can even delegate this right to the local police department. According to Mr. Williams, "We have the right to defend ourselves, but for a more orderly society, we give you (government) the authority to defend us."
An individual does not possess the right to take our earnings for any reason. Since the individual does not have this right, it cannot be delegated to government. Mr. Williams says it best:
“If I did take your earnings for housing and medical services, it would rightfully be described as an act of theft. When government does it, it's still theft – the only difference is that it's legalized theft sanctioned by a majority vote. “
Moral people should be opposed to the receipt of stolen goods. This is true whether the property comes from a petty thief or from Washington. Listen to the political promises this fall and see if you can tell whose earnings will be used to pay for all the political promises. Politicans are helping themselves to our property. As H. L. Menchen said, "Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods."
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