Where in the Constitution does it state that there's a fundamental right to health care?

Question

Nirv, the Constitution doesn't state there's a right to Nintendo Wiis, that doesn't make it a right.

Answer 1

It doesn't.  And for those who believe it's in the preamble, it isn't.  You've got to read the Federalist Papers to fully understand what the Founders had in mind.  Here are a few quotes:

"Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated." - Thomas Jefferson, 1798

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." - James Madison, 1792

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison criticizing an attempt to grant public monies for charitable means, 1794

Answer 2

Under John McCain your health care benefits will be taxed as income.  Many companies will choose to eliminate their benefits altogether.  Just thought you would like to know.

Answer 3

Does it need to be there to provide that right? As society cannot we agree that is a worthwhile goal? Do want to engage in word games or just provide the health care?  

Answer 4

It doesn't.

It never ceases to amaze me how so many people turn to socialism every time the economy looks bad, not realizing that most of our economic problems are due to the government's socialist policies and their subsequent meddling in the economy.  Socialism is an economic system that NEVER WORKS.  It sounds great, and compassionate and utopian, but in the end you get economic stagnation which leads to bread lines and unemployment.  There is no perfect economic system, but before the revolution the founders had already discovered that a purely free market minimizes poverty, and maximizes employment.  They gave us the gold standard because it virtually eliminates inflation (even on health care).  They gave us a country without any tax on labor, because it creates jobs (so people could pay for their own health care without relying on handouts).  They knew government was the natural enemy of welfare for the people, and they gave us a constitution which addresses this important truth.  It will probably be another 1,000 years before men as wise as they were have the opportunity to create another nation which uses such progressive reason to formulate its governmental and economic foundation.  This was it folks.  Freedom is a new idea, and we've given it away for a false sense of economic security.  We won't get a 2nd chance.  The damage isn't completely irreparable, but too few people have enough interest to become involved with changing the path we now tread.

Answer 5

In the preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY (no tranquility if people are terrified of leaving their homes because of the ubiquitous nature of diseases like TB), provide for the common defense, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Conservatives only see what they want to see...The answer to your question is obvious to anyone with an IQ comparable to a coffee table...

Answer 6

Read the preamble.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Welcome to the commonwealth.

Answer 7

Right next to the section where it reads that we should pre-emptively attack and invade foreign countries just because they might pose a threat.  And below the amendment which allows taxing of an individual's income for govt. revenue.

Answer 8

Darned if I can find it and I've got a copy right here.

Answer 9

The Constitution is not an exhaustive list of rights that the people have.  There can be other fundamental rights besides those enumerated in the document.

You know who says that?

The Constitution.  Read it sometime, its a neat document.

Start with the 9th Amendment for an answer to your question.

Answer 10

Where in the constitution does it say there is a fundamental right to minimum wage? Or safe working conditions?

What the h**l does the constitution have to do with health care? As we improve our condition we continue to get more rights as we are able to provide them.

Answer 11

Where in the constitution does it say you're entitled to black topped roads and bridges?

Answer 12

If we have a fundamental right to health care, how long until we have a fundamental right to food? Do you really want your health care system ran by the same principles as the DMV?

Grow up, go to school, get a job with benefits. And stop b!tching because the mechanisms are in place for everyone to go to school or learn a trade.

What I would vote for: The fundamental right of all Americans to have a fridge full of beer in their garage.

Answer 13

It's right there next to "undo burden"

Oh wait, that's not there either.

Answer 14

I think right after the section that says it's okay for the government to fund the murder of innocent children through partial birth abortion and late term abortions and that we should surrender all our private rights and income to the government for the benefit of the greater good, as the democrats and their new (presumed) nominee Barack "Empty Suit" Obama would like to see happen.

I may be wrong, after all, sometimes I get the Communist Manifesto confused with the Constitution, having been indoctrinated in our liberal government funded mind control system known as our public screwall system

Answer 15

What, should we never ever challenge the Constitution?

Answer 16

It's not explicitly stated in the constitution, however it does state this in section 8:

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States"

Healthcare falls under the category of "general welfare"

Answer 17

it doesn't state that health care is a fundamental right ... obviously you have your *** covered ... or you wouldn't post such a ridiculous thing .

Answer 18

Lets just save health care for the rich

Answer 19

Where does it state the opposite ?

Answer 20

What ever makes you happy

Answer 21

Since when did Neocons care about the constitution?

Did you know McCain was one of the proof-readers?

Answer 22

Right next to "and we hereby declare killing babies a right, as well as g*y marriage. Oh, and separation of church and state too."

Answer 23

In the same place it has the fundamental right to succeed.

Just below were it says Americans can not bare arms.

Answer 24

It doesn't. The Constitution states the role of Government in the preamble.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Answer 25

It does not, but a lot of things are not enumerated in the Constitution, just as a lot of things are not mentioned in the Bible.

I'm not sure how I feel about universal health care, it is very complicated and there are huge costs involved. But millions of Americans are  uninsured or under insured.That usually means they have some coverage for a hospital stay, but maybe not a routine doctor's appointment, without a huge deductible. Or they go to the Doctor or go to the Hospital, or Imaging Center, or Lab to have tests, And at that time Doctor's office, or in some cases patient has to call the insurance company and wait on hold, and listen to awful music while they decide to answer. Then there are all the questions about why this procedure is needed, what other procedures could have been done? Etc. Sometimes the procedure is denied if they do not have enough coverage, and they have to go without or pay a huge bill by themselves. And if they can not afford insurance, they can not afford medical bills.

I don't know that government paid insurance is the answer. Greed on the part of insurance companies, Doctors, Hospitals, etc play a big part.  But when people do not have routine coverage, for example to remove a small mole on their shoulder. If they have a good insurance policy, they can go to the Doctor and either have it taken off before something bad spreads,  or told it is "OK". Other people have no coverage for a visit like that and they let it go on until it is melanoma that has spread. Then they have to have medical care. They can not pay and it eventually  the cost goes to people who go to that hospital because their prices go up because other patients can not pay for life saving treatment. Or the patient dies without much care.

Answer 26

The Constitution doesn't mention a lot of stuff we do now (things supported by liberals and things supported by conservatives.)

Many of these things were of no question at the time the constitution was written.  Despite being brilliant in many aspects, the founding fathers were still rich and colonial in their way of thinking.  There is no way they would have predicted the human rights issues we have today.

Answer 27

It doesn't..