Antone's Nightclub
Disagrees With John Mackey
RECEIVED Mon., Aug. 17, 2009
Dear Editor,
John Mackey of Whole Foods on our rights: I begin by quoting Mackey from the Wall Street Journal [“The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare,” Aug. 11]: “… how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter? … A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This 'right' has never existed in America.”
Correct. These documents do not use the words “the right to health care, food or shelter.” However, the Declaration of Independence does use the words “… certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Life: It is difficult to sustain life without food and shelter. While the word “life” is not modified by “healthy,” maintaining life is hard if we are unwell. Liberty: Liberty means so many things, but we do know that without food and shelter and being well, it is very difficult to enjoy and contribute to the many freedoms this government provides. Pursuit of Happiness: It is difficult to pursue happiness if we are hungry, have no place to live, and are sick with no access to medical care. All of us will be more productive (contributing more effectively to the bottom line) if we have food, shelter, and access to affordable, quality health care.
What a goofy thing to say that food and shelter are not rights afforded to U.S. citizens just because those specific words are not written down anywhere. Would that account for the many hungry, homeless people in the U.S., which is shameful. Add sick and under- or uninsured to the shameful list.
John Mackey of Whole Foods on our rights: I begin by quoting Mackey from the Wall Street Journal [“The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare,” Aug. 11]: “… how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter? … A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This 'right' has never existed in America.”
Correct. These documents do not use the words “the right to health care, food or shelter.” However, the Declaration of Independence does use the words “… certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Life: It is difficult to sustain life without food and shelter. While the word “life” is not modified by “healthy,” maintaining life is hard if we are unwell. Liberty: Liberty means so many things, but we do know that without food and shelter and being well, it is very difficult to enjoy and contribute to the many freedoms this government provides. Pursuit of Happiness: It is difficult to pursue happiness if we are hungry, have no place to live, and are sick with no access to medical care. All of us will be more productive (contributing more effectively to the bottom line) if we have food, shelter, and access to affordable, quality health care.
What a goofy thing to say that food and shelter are not rights afforded to U.S. citizens just because those specific words are not written down anywhere. Would that account for the many hungry, homeless people in the U.S., which is shameful. Add sick and under- or uninsured to the shameful list.
Mary Patrick