2007
Topic E - ENTITLEMENTS
October 30, 2007

We have fighting words in legislative language. Among them: “Every person has the RIGHT to food/shelter/health care.” “Some people treat food/shelter/health care as an ENTITLEMENT.” (Note: I prefer to underline, but emails do not consistently show that.)

These two words are thrown around in the press, in the legislature, on talk radio, and in grumps between neighbors. What do they really mean? Over the past year I have asked for a definition from many groups -- including my immediate family, my staff, my class at church, and collections of friends. No clear consensus! In general, we agree it is a right if I want it for myself, and an entitlement if you want it.

So, what is a right? It depends on who says so, who will guarantee it, who will defend it, and, if needed, who will pay for it. In all cases what counts is actually the consensus of a community .... a local, business, professional, or governmental community. A ‘right’ can quickly become a contest of loud voices in a community or council. Rational thought, even a bit of it, is in order.

Try the dictionary. Right - “Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition or nature.” (Nature?!) Entitlement - “A governmental program that guarantees and provides benefits to a particular group.”

Clearly, ‘entitlement’ is more restrictive. A child in Nebraska is entitled to a free education. Simply be a child and you have it. Guaranteed. It is in the Constitution. The article does not say, or allow us to say, EXCEPT if - retarded, except if - create trouble in class, except if - not a citizen, except if - does not speak English. It is the law.

And a right? The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights says every person has the right to food, clothing, shelter, medical care, security of person and education. However, we know the ‘right’ depends on a community to provide it. Is a denied right a right?

Our Declaration of Independence declares a God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. “We hold these truths to be self evident (!), that all (men) are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these rights governments are instituted ...... deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” We of course are not sure what those rights mean, as life is being denied several of our military in Iraq (by governmental action), and none of us is at liberty to do as we please in an ordered community (by governmental action), and the pursuit of happiness is dreamy idealism without definition.

What is a ‘God-given’ right? Both of the above authorities assume rights are given by the simple fact of (God's) creation, of being born, of being a human. However, God does not enforce it, so the fact of a right is left to “the consent of the governed” -- that is, to our collective opinion. Our opinions keep changing! God may or may not get a fair listen in the debate.

There was one right in Nebraska Territory: to stake a claim to land (if you were of age). You had no claim on food, shelter, medical care or education. The first entitlement for the destitute in Omaha City: free burial. If you wanted more, you were free to leave -- if you had a horse. Like almost all entitlements, the burial was more for the benefit of the community than it was caring about the individual.

Slowly, we have granted a long list of rights. A child has the right to medical care. Even to a lead-free environment. We pay for it! We declare that every person has the right to clean air and water, though we are having a difficult time providing it to all and the feds recently reduced the restrictions on mercury in the air. An elderly citizen with little resources has the right to food, clothing, shelter and medical care. (We changed our collective mind on this, as expressed in Medicaid care for the elderly.)

However, if a legislature, or a county or a city does not provide funds, where is the right?

We have now laid the base for the spirited fights. Does a fetus have a right to life? Does a pregnant teenager have the liberty of choice? Does a citizen have the right to smoke-free air in public places? Does the citizen have the right to drinkable tap water? Does a person have the right of free speech, of choice of worship, of reading a free press, of private communication (as in emails), of owning property? In every case, this is a right only if we, the relevant community involved, say so and provide for it. Otherwise, none is a true right.

Further, we rank these. We have declared that the right to liberty is a higher value than the right to life. For over two hundred years the United States has instructed our military personnel that liberty is our top value, more important than their lives. We tell police officers that freedom in the community may cost them lives. I told my mother her choice to pray to die was valid. To a homeless man, we provide clean water but not the regular medical care every child may receive. We rank our rights.

This is a good time to say I am so grateful for nonprofit agencies who provide services that governmental units are not able to provide, or could not otherwise afford. Dedicated, hard working leaders and volunteers rescue us every day, supporting rights.

Another perspective: what is the ‘God-given right’ of an adult dying of disease in Africa? Health care becomes a matter of the Gates Foundation, through medication, treating 40 million (!) persons in the last year and saving lives. Maybe it IS God-given! Depends on your view of God among us and your understanding of our part in God's creation.

Amen.

Lowen