Many are claiming “rights.” The. BIG. Question: what protects the rest of us from them? One of the most demoralizing things of 2016-202X America has been the huge amount of disrespect and outright cruelty inflicted upon innocents and people merely doing their jobs. The massive greed of the top 1% and corporations is, of course, a given.
BUT – it has been the cruelties inflicted by “normal” people that has so pierced hearts. Much/most of this has been done in the name of “rights.” What religious/moral code permits cruelties to innocent people???
If we all have “rights” and no RESPONSIBILITIES – what kind of society does/has this created? If we all get to “do our thing,” are “we” degenerating into the jungle? Is “love thy neighbor as thyself” no longer applicable?
AS America slides into libertarian anarchy, consider the following “rights” claims:
– COVID anti-vaxxers claim a “right” to their bodily integrity, to do as they please; to infect YOU and occupy most hospital beds – putting more stress on fatigued/burned out hospital workers, creating more chances for COVID to mutate [note: this “bodily integrity” does NOT apply to females – they have “sacred” duties to the state!!!]
– the “right” of the AMA, hospitals, investors, insurance companies to charge as much as possible is described in ‘Washington Monthly,’ Nov-Dec, 2021 issue’s “The Doctor Will Not See You Now,” Bartlett & Steele”s “Critical Condition,” T.R. Reid’s “The Healing of America” – and many other studies [America is #37!!!!!}
– the “right” to be misinformed. Americans so gullible, paranoid, ignorant, believing an overweight demagogue [documented liar of epic dimensions!!!], multiple media MORONS, incompetent INTERNET IDIOTS. Waiting to see those poor souls arguing 2 plus 2 equals 5 – because “trusted sources” told them it did.
– armed vigilantes claim the “right” to walk around imposing ‘justice’ and ‘protection’ of THEIR choosing by displaying military-style weapons on American streets
– corrupt politicians claim the “right” to appoint “pro-life” judges in violation of Article VI of the Constitution [no religious test for office] and Amendment One [no state church]
– criminals, many with long records, claim the “right” to resist arrest [itself a crime], if they get shot while trying to flee [itself a crime], they have a “right’ to blame this on the police
– corporations claim the “right” to ship YOUR job to China; if this builds up the new Nazi Germany [it did], it is irrelevant to their “right” to “maximize shareholder value” [make the top 1% richer]
– religious zealots claim the “right” to impose their “sincerely held religious beliefs” on YOU; denying YOU contraceptives and abortion, demanding YOUR tax dollars fund their religious schools – all. this in clear violation of virtually ALL 1775-1800 Founding documents at state and federal levels [see 1776 North Carolina, Delaware, etc!!!]
– partisan “think tanks” claim the “right’ to create “alternative facts” for American history, politics, Constitutional law, and science; their “free speech rights’ supposedly free them to deny factual events and science
– protestors, some violent, claim “the Constitutional right” to be mean to local school boards, city officials, elections officials, etc. – a Constitutional right” to disrupt, yell and scream – at people doing their job
– the rich and corporations claim the “right” to subvert democracy with millions in “campaign contributions” [to launder money through lobbyists] – a “right” given them by an ethically-challenged “business-friendly” Supreme Court]; the cost of “free speech’ has escalated to where billionaires have more “freedom” than YOU do!!!!!
-“patriotic Americans” claim the “right’ to harass and assault people “who look like they’re not real Americans” or are speaking anything but English [why are “Americans’ speaking English???]
– social media claim the “free speech right” to permit a long list of harmful, anti-democratic, and false “alternative facts” that has undermined America, inflicted serious damage [including suicides] on children, DELIBERATELY misinformed
– the “Constitutional right” to possess ANY kind of gun has now created an atmosphere of fear; NOWHERE in America is safe [except INSIDE the Supreme Court] from gun violence; NO other “advanced” nation has anywhere near America’s 100 gun violence victims EVERY DAY – all this based on fraudulent interpretation of “2nd Amendment rights”
– corrupt politicians claim the “right’ to subvert democracy by “gerrymandering’ legislative districts; this has dramatically increased polarization by electing extremists refusing to compromise
– anti-social crazies claim the “right” to assault airlines and retail personnel if they do their job and make you wear a mask – so that the people around you aren’t infected if you happen to be infected
– the top 1% claims the “right” to evade and/or not pay ANY taxes – since they [through their superior brilliance] have “earned” all their obscene wealth “by themselves, shouldn’t have to share it with “undeserving”lesser beings like YOU
– amoral corporations claim the “right” to sell dangerous, murderous products; even if found guilty, they claim the “right’ to reduce legal penalties by prolonged legal evasions
– vaccine refusniks claim the “right’ to disrespect and harass doctors and nurses because they feel their “rights” to “freedom” have been violated; thus contributing to medical personnel [people keeping us alive] burnout and suicide
– amoral individuals and companies in the financial industry claim the “right” to get rich through virtually ANY scheme, even if it causes crashes and depressions; mass pain and unemployment should be considered “normal”
– the “right” of “patriotic” Americans so paranoid and suspicious [because they’re misinformed] they’re willing to support another 1/6/21 rebellion – this one an armed revolt to overthrow American democracy because “the wrong people” won through “election fraud” and are going to impose “socialism” [ but keep my Social Security check coming]
– corrupt politicians claim the “right’ to suppress voting [by the ‘wrong voters’] in the name of “electoral integrity” and eliminating [non-existent] “fraud”; this has the same validity as “shot while attempting to escape,” “taken into protective custody,” “untermensch,” etc.
One troubling thing for all these “rights” claimants – and also ironic: if we were able to honor all these “rights” claims, it would appear that we no longer support “law and order.” It would also appear that we no longer believe in the Constitution’s requirement that ‘our” government works to “promote the general Welfare. [greatest good for the greatest number]. It would also appear that some consider themselves to be above the law.
It would also appear, that a nation of “adults” making these claims is, in fact, a nation of immature, selfish children.
With Justice For All 