Rights, Privileges and Responsibility



Posted: Wednesday, October 08, 2008

by Kim Bryant
Black Oak Farm

This is how the election will end up, with Americans defining their country. One of the questions in the debate last night was about healthcare. Each candidate was asked if healthcare in this country was a right, a privilege or a responsibilty. Barack Obama said that it was a right and John McCain said that it was a responsibility. I agree with John McCain.

My opinion about our great country is that the downfall will be entitlement. I believe that each person has to take responsibility for themselves. When we start viewing the government as the responsible party and begin to think that benefits are rights, we are changing the nature of democracy and capitalism. If benefits become rights, there is no motivation for innovation or for success. Everyone will have the same and no matter how hard you work, everyone will receive the same. And that is socialism.

I want to continue living in a democracy. However, the outcome of this election may determine if we are moving toward a socialist state.

Kim was born in Kentucky, raised in New Jersey and has lived in Virginia since 1982. She works for a software development company in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and enjoys writing about her farm, her family and her work. And, being a mother of 3 ranging in ages from 4-21, Kim enjoys many different perspectives on life. http://www.trainingforce.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Terry Mitchell
 3 years 223 days ago.
93 fans.
Kim, you're exactly right! This sense of entitlement is partially responsible for getting our economy is the trouble it's already in. If we make healthcare a right, what's next? Is housing going to be a right? What about an automobile? Or a boat?
» left by Kim Bryant 3 years 223 days ago.
5 fans.
Well, the sense of entitlement is progressive.  And I think that in the last century we saw how out of control it has gotten.  I like living in a democracy and all of the freedoms that we have.  But we also have the freedom to make poor choices and fail.  Unfortunately our government now sees it as their responsibility to fix problems.  Maybe as a country we would grow stronger when we learn from our mistakes.  Thanks for you comment.
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