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There were no countries with welfare programs back then, surely you cannot really believe the founding fathers actually meant that to mean welfare handouts. The concept did not exist back then.
General welfare means well being, and the Constitution did not plan for planes, trains, automobiles, computers, the Middle East issue, toxins in food, the doing away of racism, and approximately 10,000,000 other things. The Constitution is a very general guide, with no specifics. It was written to allow for modifications, it was written to allow the federal govt to make decisions based upon what is going on at any particular time in the country and with the people. It was not written as a manual on minutiae.
We define our rights and they change over time. It's not just one big free for all, society wouldn't exist if it was.
Endowed rights do not change.
Restating, based on the Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by our creator(s) with rights to life, to liberty, to property ownership, etc.
Governments (a subset of society) were instituted to help secure those rights from trespass by others.
However, if you don't recognize the difference between an endowed right versus a privilege granted (often mistakenly called rights, like "Civil rights" or "Voting rights"), it will look confusing.
Endowed rights exist regardless of government.
Privileges only exist because of government.
This, I think, is more of a philosophical question rather than a political one.
What rights and "entitlements" do babies have? Do babies have the "right" to be brought up and raised by two healthy, reasonably intelligent, well adjusted parents?
Does anyone have a right to a free education?
Does a handicapped person such as someone who is blind or lame and wheelchair-bound have any kind of right to get assistance such as vocational training or even access to public buildings or restrooms?
The absolute answer is no.
People are not really "entitled" to anything. In many countries even "life" or "liberty" or "the pursuit of happiness" are not granted.
As a nation and a community of people we have granted these "rights" because most people think it is beneficial to society and social order.
So, in my view, the answer in NO.
However, as a society we have given people "rights" and "entitlements" because we feel it is a good thing, a moral thing, a just thing, a nice thing, a civilized thing, and a benefit to all society and for the good of domestic peace, harmony and social order.
There were no countries with welfare programs back then, surely you cannot really believe the founding fathers actually meant that to mean welfare handouts. The concept did not exist back then.
There seems to be precedent way back in Tudor England with the English Poor Laws.
It created a system administered at parish level,[26] paid for by levying local rates on rate payers.[27] Relief for those too ill or old to work, the so-called 'impotent poor', was in the form of a payment or items of food ('the parish loaf') or clothing also known as outdoor relief. Some aged people might be accommodated in parish alms houses, though these were usually private charitable institutions. Meanwhile able-bodied beggars who had refused work were often placed in Houses of Correction or even subjected to beatings to mend their attitudes. Provision for the many able-bodied poor in the workhouse, was relatively unusual, and most workhouses developed later. The 1601 Law said that parents and children were responsible for each other, elderly parents would live with their children.[28]
I never avoided the question. You're assuming I know you want or need food, beer, and sex from me. You're assuming we both know what it's worth for me or you to work or receive these things.
Again, we need to start with what we need and want on a personal and societal level and not just get drafted into the social contract. Then we have to decide what we are willing to do on a personal and societal level to attain these things. Until we do that, this is all academic.
I'm willing to talk about it.
The opening premise of the OP is basically what does society owe you.
My question is simple, since the OP is referring to the availability of the basics of life.
What then are we obligated to do if we are obligating society to make those things available?
A contract has 2 sides. So if you are going to have a hard social contract of obligations to provide food, shelter etc. then what is the obligation of the recipients to society?
We need more posts that reference facts around here. good job. +1
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