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'…I am proud to be a socialist' : Comments
By Alon Ben-Meir, published 5/3/2020If the issues that address human rights are labeled 'socialist', then I must proclaim that I am a socialist to the core, and I invite anyone to challenge the premise of my conviction.
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A negative right is something that does not require an action on others, whereas a positive right does. Freedom of speech is a negative right, it does not require others to act. Healthcare is a clear example of a positive right. Obviously, the ideal would have no one dying or inconvenienced by sub-optimal healthcare. However, it requires action by others. Who pays and who must act are always questions that must first be answered.
Positive rights often conflict with negative rights too. What about freedom of association? What about freedom of thought? Is a Catholic doctor required to perform an abortion? Must a minority doctor serve an active racist? How much can doctors reasonably charge, considering the amount of training and effort we require of them? If I do not get sick, should I be required to pay for someone else's treatment? Does it make more sense to put money aside to cover health issues as a community action (this is how private health insurance started)?