Jack Kevorkian, legendary assisted-suicide activist, has announced he's running for Congress. His platform: the Ninth Amendment to the US Constitution. He thinks we have all sorts of rights we aren't exercising , like assisted suicide or choosing not to wear a seat belt.
The Ninth Amendment provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Dr. Jack thinks that means just because a right - like the right to assist in a suicide - isn't listed in the Constitution, doesn't mean we can't do it. By that logic, does that mean if I don't like someone I can kill them? If I want a flat panel big screen TV, but don't have the money, I can steal it? How about if If I don't want to pay my taxes, I don't have to? None of those "rights" are in the Constitution.
The good Doctor is forgetting that, along with the Constitution, we have a vast system of federal, state and local law and regulation that affords and curtails rights and privileges and underpins our society. Hiccups in the system abound, to be sure, but we're a long way from the anarchy Dr. Kevorkian seems to be advocating. Who makes those laws up? Oh, yeah, it's Congress.
So what's Dr. Jack going to do all day if he gets elected if he's not making laws? Play tiddly-winks?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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