Our comrade-in-chief has touted healthcare as a “right” that all people are entitled to. In that regard, I assume he views healthcare in the same vein as the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. When one looks at those principles that are ascribed as rights, what is observed is that they are A) seen as God-given liberties that can only be denied through tyranny (as with the Declaration of Independence); B) seen as a protection guaranteeing individual liberty (as with the Bill of Rights); and C) revolve around freedoms that are intrinsic to an individual, but which do not deprive others of their liberties.

Regarding the last point, for example, the First Amendment guarantees that I have the “right” to practice my religion without molestation by the government. It also guarantees my right to express my point of view without fear of reprisal. The Second Amendment ensures that I have the “right” to bear arms and protect myself. These “rights” protect a citizen’s liberty without depriving another citizen of their rights.

When I write this blog, I do not deprive another of their “rights.” When I purchase a firearm, I am, again, not depriving someone of their fundamental liberties. When I worship on Sunday, I am not depriving someone of something. It appears that what we, as a body politic, have always viewed as valid rights has always leaned toward protecting citizens’ liberty, but never at the expense of others.