The Right to No Rights

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed an explosion of so-called "rights." It may have started with the Civil Rights Act on 1964. But now, the mantra goes like this:

• You have the right to a job
• You have the right to a place to live
• You have the right to a decent living wage
• You have the right to 3 yrs. of unemployment insurance.
• You have the right to free health care.
• You have the right to free birth control.
• You have the right to an education.
• If you have a special needs child, he or she has the right to an education and the right to be treated as a normal child (even though normal children don't need an aide at their side at all times).
• You have the right to live and work in a smoke-free environment.
• You have the right to work in a fragrance-free environment.
• If you live in Boulder, Colorado and you're a dog or a cat, you even have pet's rights. 

I've been reading the philosopher John Locke who greatly influenced our founding fathers. Locke based his understanding of individual rights and liberty on the Bible. He believed that we are endowed with certain inalienable rights: The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and because of Locke's writings, we have the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. 

I am so tired of hearing my fellow Americans clamor for this right and that right. As far as I'm concerned, we have no rights other than to love God and love one another. 

I become concerned for my own soul when I find myself claiming some of these rights. It means that I have become lost in the herd mentality and that I have forgotten my identity as a child of God. 

The more we demand special rights, the more it reveals our lost condition and how we are seeking to be the kings of our own little governments where everyone serves us and gives us whatever we demand, whatever right we feel entitled to.

I am reminded of one man who gave up all his rights and privileges for the human race.

Philippians 2:4-11 (MSG)

4 Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

6 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!

8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

9 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever,

10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ,

11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

With God's help and strength, I want to go through this day, setting aside my privileges and rights. I want to look to helping, encouraging and strengthening others this day rather than seeking to have my own needs or rights met. Oh Lord, restore my soul, and renew a right spirit within me.

Here's the problem: It's not really about providing "free" contraceptives.

"What's all the fuss about?  Catholics (and others) aren't being required to use contraceptives, so what's the big deal?"

Didn’t Obama strike a compromise so that now contraceptives will be available free-of-charge by health insurers. Why do we have to force health insurers to provide for something that doesn’t cost that much? Everyone knows that anyone who wants contraceptives has easy access to such measures even if he or she does not have a health plan that provides for them.  The local friendly drugstore has aisles stacked to the ceiling with condoms and other "family planning" measures, while clinics such as Planned Parenthood hand out birth control pills and abortions with abandon -- sometimes even to underage girls, as damning videos taken by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles have shown.  

Obama has talked about contraception as if it were one of our most basic human rights. Why? Because many liberals regard pregnancy as a disease to be prevented. As Sen. Barbara Boxer said about free contraception and abortion pills, “It’s medicine, and women deserve their medicine.” Obama views the Constitution mainly as an impediment to controlling institutions such as churches and families that stand between the state and individuals. Congresswoman Gwendolynne Moore from Wisconsin said last week on the House floor that being exposed to the prospects of pregnancy is a danger to women's health and safety. I'm serious--you can't make this stuff up!

Obama (with the help of Kathleen Sibelius) shredding the Constitution

First of all, as far as the Obama administration is concerned, this is NOT really about the availability of contraceptives for every woman.

Here’s where all this is headed: 

The next step on the part of the government will almost certainly force all religious institutions to provide access to health care insurance that provides coverage of surgical abortions. The Obama administration will argue that just like contraceptives, abortion should be available to all women, offered free-of-charge by health insurers (By the way, when Obama says “free” or “without cost”—who picks up the tab? Look in the mirror. That’s who’s going to be forced to pay for these additional costs).

Where does it end?  Regular exercise is good, so the President decides that all health care plans should cover, without co-pay, access to regular exercise classes.  What about Prilosec which would benefit me and others who suffer from acid-reflux? What about our teeth? Shouldn’t the government pay for our dental care? What about sex-change surgery? After all, it would be discriminatory we are told by panels of psychologists to deny sex-change surgery. And what about stem-cell research? If the president decides that everyone should have access to cell therapy for Parkinson’s and Alzheimers, why not. And what about elective euthasnasia? Health plans will have to cover that as well because they offer it in Europe. 

All of these rights which are NOT found in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights will be rights which our President will deem necessary as he forces us to bow to totalitarian government control of every aspect of our lives.

In regards to this administration, this is not a simple matter of making contraceptives available to all women, but part of a bigger, grander strategy. If you don’t want a totalitarian government running your life, and eliminating your freedom of choice, then make sure you vote to send Obama packing come November.