re: #245 austin_blue

I’ll go ahead and respond to that dangling pilpul. One of the basic concepts of this country, as embodied in the Preamble, is to “provide for the common good”. You can quibble about what that means, but it is a flat out “socialistic” statement inserted by the founders with their eyes wide open. One of the primary arguments between Liberals and Conservatives ever since is to determine where the balance between regulation and capitalism lies in direct relation to that statement. Do you want to privatize your police department? Your fire department? Your drinking water department? Your sewerage board? I will bet you don’t, but those are *all* socialist organizations.

I tend more to the Liberal side of things, but certainly not in all areas. I’m a vet. My dad’s in Arlington. I come from a long line of public service. I think that in a nation as fruitful as ours, we should do what we can to ensure that people have the basics of food, housing, education, and medical care. The reason that I believe this is that it is cheaper, in the long run, than having them in prison, or in emergency rooms.

Just my .02

Hey austin,
In your great state this week—too hot!
Perhaps these are rhetorical questions, but are food, housing, education and medical care rights? If so, who has to provide them? How much is basic? Do I have a right to a beach-front condo? If I am a doctor, am I obligated to treat you? Should this be out of the goodness of my heart or my government mandate?
I understand your points, but wonder where and how we draw the line between giving a hand up when somebody needs it, and letting people live off the fat of the land.