As we have just celebrated our nation's 250th “birthday”, there is one very important point I must single out. I do this as a person who has dedicated his entire life to the practice of medicine, having graduated from medical school over four decades ago.

I have heard that health care is a “right” thousands of times. And as much as I believe and have dedicated my entire life to making sure people have access to good healthcare, my soul vibrates horribly when I hear that statement. 

You may be wondering why? Why do you think healthcare is your “right”?

A “right” can never be something that depends upon another free individual to provide for someone else for free. Never. Your right to something should never force me to lose my rights - my right to control my own life and destiny. My right not to become your slave. If you want me to provide you with health care, what are you willing to provide me with in exchange? And if you are not willing to provide me with anything in exchange, that makes me your slave - devoid of the right to control my own destiny. 

Furthermore, if you believe that I am entitled to receive something in exchange for me to provide you with healthcare and you yourself are not willing to do so, that means you are going to force someone else to - taking away their rights to control their destiny. 

A “right” can never be, and is not anything that requires others to provide it for you without compensation. Never. Ever. Hard stop.

Healthcare is not a “right”.

Food is not a “right”.

Shelter is not a “right”.

Water is not a “right”. You can survive weeks without food, but just a few days without water. And water is not free. In Manhattan the cost is %6.76 per 1,000 gallons. 

These are all things we as a society may choose to provide to our fellow citizens who cannot obtain them by themselves. Something we have done and continue to do which costs us trillions of dollars annually. We even do this for a large number of people who are not citizens of the United States of America. 

When you look at your “rights” as provided to you in the US Constitution they include the right to freedom of speech and religion, to assembly and to bear arms, to not self incriminate. There are others, and all of them do not involve the involuntary servitude of another human being to provide them to you. 

So, you do not have a “right” to healthcare. In fact, the perceived “right” to healthcare is what has broken our healthcare system. Has made it expensive and highly inefficient. It has removed the normal marketplace forces that have forever increased efficiency while decreasing costs. 

Wishes for a great day to all,

Each one a gift,

David/