Re: DOES THE 9th AMENDMENT PROTECT RESPONSIBLE REC DRUG USE?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>On 28 Nov 2003 12:24:45 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Pete nospam Zakel)
>wrote:

>>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

>>>Some argue that we have a right to medical care, whether we can afford
>>>it or not.

>>No, that would be an entitlement, not a right.

>Who says? How do we know what is covered by the ninth amendment other
>than by asking you?

A right is something that you have inherent in yourself.  An entitlement is
an obligation on someone else.

You have the right to provide your own medical care.  You do not have the
right to force someone else to give you medical care.

Capice?

>Others could argue that the right to get medical care is also a "real"
>right. Indeed, others DO make that argument.

No, it's an entitlement.  It obligates someone else to do something for you.

A right is something that allows you to do something (or not do something)
without interference.

So you have a right to practice medicine on yourself.  You have no right to
force someone else to practice medicine on you, although you may have the
legal power to do so if they have an obligation to you (such as through a
contract, etc.).

That's another distinction a lot of people have trouble with -- the difference
between a right and a power.

-Pete Zakel
 ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

Afternoon, n.:
        That part of the day we spend worrying about how we wasted the
        morning.