Millionaire senator says healthcare, food and shelter are privileges, not rights

Latest

Healthcare rally in Los Angeles. More and more Americans believe healthcare is a right and that government must insure our needs—not corporate needs.
PHOTO/MOLLY ADAMS

 
A few months ago, millionaire Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told a group of high school students near Milwaukee that healthcare, food, clothing and shelter are privileges, not rights.
A student asked Johnson, “Do you personally consider healthcare as a privilege or a right?” The senator replied: “I think it’s probably more of a privilege. Do you consider food a right? Do you consider clothing a right? Do you consider shelter a right? What we have as rights is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Past that point, we have the right to freedom. Past that point everything else is a limited resource that we have to use our opportunities given to us so we can afford those things. Sen. Rand Paul talked about this on the floor of the Senate. He’s a doctor. He said the minute you consider healthcare a right, well, who’s going to satisfy that right?”
Millionaires like Sen. Johnson define food, shelter, clothing and healthcare as privileges because if these things were rights, then our society would have to guarantee that all of us had access to them. And that would threaten the whole existing economic system, because that system can’t and won’t guarantee these necessities to anyone who cannot afford to pay for them. The economic system we have now is set up to guarantee profits for billionaires and corporations, not the necessities of life (or anything else) for the people, and this is immoral. We, the people, need a cooperative society where the people control the economy and we guarantee that everyone has what they need to both survive and thrive. In the meantime, we must build a movement that demands that the government classify food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and other necessities as rights, and guarantees that all of us have them.

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Fragile Ceasefire Victory and the Role of the Global Movement

In 2024, 125 nations of the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister. This and countless other unprecedented acts of resistance took place against a “war” that revealed itself daily as outright genocide. The world’s people expressed their common humanity through actions and voices...sustaining this epic unity for the battles that lie ahead is critical for real peace..."

“No Kings” Protests Set to Sweep US Even as Trump Increases Attacks on Activists

Republicans are already smearing the protesters, but their intimidation tactics are out of touch with reality.

ICE Fears Put Pregnant Immigrants and Their Babies at Risk

Fear of deportation is deterring people without permanent legal status from critical care. Doctors are worried for the health of pregnant immigrants, and the health of their pregnancies. This story was originally reported by 19thnews.org.

Government Shutdown and the Blame Game

Using a bold-faced lie President Trump and Vice President Vance blamed immigrants, particularly the undocumented, for the government shutdown now in effect throughout the country. The Republican plan would increase Obamacare payments and make Medicaid cuts.

Emmy-Winning Journalist Deported After Reporting on Anti-Trump Protest

Emmy award-winning journalist Mario Guevara was deported to El Salvador – a country he fled over 20 years ago — in retaliation for filming law enforcement activities, says the Committee to Protect Journalists.

More from the People's Tribune