Rights and entitlement

LARRY ANDERSON
Larry Anderson

The United States of America is a special place because of its Constitutional protections so carefully ratified when the country was in its infancy.

Citizens’ fundamental rights are described simply and directly in the Bill of Rights. The amendments are brief because the Founders wanted to be clear and firm that these rights were not to be toyed with politically or deliberately misconstrued by detractors.

And there are always detractors.

Today, those who despise our generous freedoms, our flawed and adventurous history, even our imperfect judicial system, are working industriously to discredit democracy and our right to live life self-chosen.

Rights should not be confused with entitlement. They are two different things. Rights are earned and granted; entitlement is merely expected.

Let’s look at rights first.

The First Amendment guarantees the right to practice religion, speech, and press as well as the right to assemble and petition.

Others of a different faith are not entitled to denigrate yours. Those of a different opinion are not entitled to speak over you or to shout you down, as is the common practice now on the part of the Left. This is abuse.

The Second Amendment is very clear: The right to bear arms shall not be infringed.

Not everyone wants a firearm, and that is fine, but said people are not entitled to infringe on your right to own.

The Fourth Amendment guarantees security in person, homes, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizures by representatives of law or government.

The Fifth Amendment protects against double jeopardy. Also, the accused can not be compelled to testify against one’s self or be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process.

Keep in mind, those who exercise their Second Amendment right and own firearms also own property. Gun owners are protected twice against seizure, the ultimate goal of the Left.

The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments guarantee other trial rights. You have the right to a speedy trial of impartial jurors and the right to confront witnesses and assist your attorney in your defense.

You have the right to file suit.

There can be no excessive bail or cruel or unusual punishment.

The Ninth Amendment declares rights enumerated in the Constitution shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

The Tenth Amendment states powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.

States have rights, and that’s troubling to proponents of centralized government.

In America, citizens have more rights than government. Period.

The rights summarized above that are most clearly endangered by the Left are those found in the First, Second, Fourth, and Tenth Amendments.

Now, in the last seven years especially, the Left has attempted, with a degree of success, to couple rights with entitlement.

A sense of entitlement has been separated from the notion of earning or being able to keep what you earn. This has occurred due to politics, not the Constitution or laws derived from it.

In America you have the right to earn all the money and property that you legally can, but you aren’t entitled to others’ resources merely because you were born. You aren’t entitled to an income.

You have the right to attend an institution of higher learning, but why would you think you are entitled to a free ride?

You certainly have the right to pursue redress, but you aren’t entitled to a certain outcome.

You have the right to vote, but you aren’t entitled to a guaranteed victory.

Immigrants may be granted the right to come here legally, but they aren’t entitled to storm our country illegally and then claim entitlement to the same rights as citizens.

Lefties disagree with this logic because legality interferes with their political purpose.

Social Security is rightfully called an entitlement, and the reason is simple: One can’t draw from the fund until requirements of participation and age are met. You pay first, then collect.

If one is collecting what one paid in via established regulations, then one is certainly entitled to it.

A citizen has a right to object to the direction his/her country is going, but he/she isn’t entitled to run away when things aren’t going their preferred way.

That would be a privilege.

All Americans have many rights. None of us are entitled to abuse them for political or selfish gain.

If you witness the abuse of your rights and your country, you have the right to rise in their defense. You also have the responsibility and obligation.