Evolution of Human Rights

A little background …

It was during the 1700’s that intellectuals in various countries, principally France, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy, began to espouse concepts and notions of freedom, progress, reason, tolerance, and ending the abuses of the church and state. It was the advent of a period called Enlightenment or Illuminism.  It was a response to the previous period called the scientific revolution advanced by such dignitaries as Francis Bacon, Descartes, Lock, and Spinoza.  The new luminaries were Cesare Beccaria, Voltaire, Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, David Hume, Adam Smith, and Immanuel Kant.

Two Americans came to Europe during this period: Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They both contributed heavily to the scientific and political debate of the times.

The concepts of the social contract and the relationship of the state and civil society became central issues.  The intellectual fervor that came out from these debates led in 1778 to the French Revolution; a little over two years after the American Declaration of Independence. The revolution resulted in the overthrow of the French monarchy and the reigning-in of the Church’s power and influence.

The emerging French constitution established three breakthrough human rights principles: liberty, equality, and brotherhood. Americans, when constructing their constitution, based much of their work on the French model. The founding fathers, however, cleverly limited freedoms that conflicted with the current practice of slavery in Southern States. However, they included an enormously-innovative twist … freedom to pursue happiness.

Over the years, amendments and additions such as the Bill of Rights have corrected inequities, and addressed omissions by adding freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom from discrimination, and so on.

A long and painful journey …

We have come to realize that these freedoms are baseline.  

During the past century, the list of rights was expanded to include the right to a safe workplace, the right to a "normal" workweek, the right to a minimum wage, the right to vote, the right to equal justice, and the right to a primary and secondary education.  These rights (some call them privileges) were also added: a social safety net, access to healthcare, clean environment, equal employment, and lately the right for gays and lesbians to marry.

These additions were intended to ensure a more equitable and just society. Some will point to the list to show progress, other will say that much more remains to be done.

Like what? 

To start with, people advocate equal work for equal pay as a right. No question that fairness demands that. It is unfair for a woman to receive 78 cents on the dollar for work they perform similar to men’s. While we espouse the theory that men and women are created equal, the theory in practice says the opposite. I understand the historical rationale, but like certain historical remnants, this practice is anachronistic, to say the least.

A living wage is another right.  It is impossible for a head of a family to live on the minimum wage. I support the notion of a living wage. It could encourage people to leave the welfare rolls, especially those people who lack the fundamental education or capacity to rise above entry-level jobs. Exclusions for teenagers would be appropriate. Work improves self-esteem and gives a sense of accomplishment.

State universities should be tuition-free. It is an investment in a better-educated workforce and the nation’s competitive advantage. People should not be forced to borrow money to pay tuition. Education is not just for those who can afford it, it is for everyone who is capable and motivated to pursue it. Personally, I do NOT mind paying higher taxes to support this right.

I might be in left field, and if I am, so be it, but I believe that people should have the right to a job, not necessarily the job they want, but a job that enables them to earn a living. Work has been shown to increase people’s self-worth and responsibility. Few, if any of us, want to be burdens on others. A sense of accomplishment contributes to individual happiness.

Like what not?

I am not supportive of limiting CEO’s pay. Government should not be setting rules that the market place is more capable of doing. We do not want to reduce the earning potential of others to offset our inability to earn as much. This is class envy, in my view. We do not need that! To me it is a wedge issue promoted by power hungry politicians.

Some folks advocate a borderless immigration policy. I do not support that. Countries need to have secure borders, if they are to be called countries. I am in favor of regulated immigration. In a country of laws one cannot ignore lawless behavior. By saying this, I am not advocating expelling 12 million illegal aliens (without papers)! They need to pay a fine and get at the back of the line if they wish to apply for citizenship. Another wedge issue?

I am not in favor of socking it to the rich with our tax system. Let’s stay true to our principle of proportionality and eliminate loopholes that make a mockery of the fairness notion. Populist slogans are another example of a wedge issue.

We do not need more divisions, we need more cohesion. Americans are very generous.

How about you?

Your thoughts?