One last thing

....before 'Rear Window'

Yesterday in International Law - we were discussing the ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights). One of the rights enumerated in this covenant is a Right to Food. Anyway there is much to be said about this covenant, its validity, and the U.S. position on it, but right now I just wanted to mention one classmates comments w/r/to the matter.

One of my classmates exclaimed that he disagreed with the right to food, because that would mean that the gov't would have to infringe upon the rights of others. The others being individuals whom the gov't would have to deprive of money or property in order to give food to those who were hungry. Basically, the gov't would have to tax people in order to pay for the food to give to people who couldn't afford it. Now remember that we're talking about food here - not iPods - we're talking about feeding hungry people, and yet this guy doesn't think that feeding hungry people is reason enough for the gov't to exercise its power of taxation.

The other point he made was that if the gov't provided a right to food - it would artificially affect the 'market' for food products. Yeah - I know - WTF, who gives a shit about 'the market' when there are starving people - I seriously don't get these crazy adherents to an unfettered free market. I mean that concept is such garbage economics - and it doesn't work - SEE the 1920's. Anyway the situation was appalling, selfish and ridiculous.

.....I wonder if this guy is remitting several thousand dollars a year to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for its funding of the University of Pittsburgh, or if he has opted out the Federally Subsidized Student Loans.....certainly if food isn't worthy of gov't tax dollars - neither is some jackass's legal education.

As Emily noted, one of the worst aspects of conservatism is that it breeds selfishness!