Writing Assignment One/Bedel

Author: Angelique Bedel

I do not believe that food is a right in our country. We are a country based on freedom and on working hard. In justifying this, I will appeal to Kant's principle of Fairness and to simple logic. I will agree it is a good thing that they are feeding the poor in Brazil. However, one must realize that at this rate the population will continue to grow and become comfortable with this life style. What happens as the population grows? What will their children do when the money is gone, and they do not know what to do? Perhaps it will work itself out, but it is a valid concern. Moving on to why I am against it in this country, is because we have food stamps and welfare. The number of Americans receiving food stamps reached 43 million in November 2010, the highest number since the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) program began in 1939. For those who are unable to work for their living, there is already an alternative. With this, in light to fairness, they have to qualify in order to receive assistance. This implements the principle of respect, of treating others as you would want to be treated. If an individual is capable of working and supporting their family, then one should do so. However, if that individual truly needs help, it is readily available. Not to mention all of the missions and church hand outs that are also readily available to the public. This also connects with the pursuit of human virtue, an individual principle of morality, that states we should try to hold ourselves up to a certain standard. We do push education in this country, and this is one of the primary reasons we do so. This also backs up Mill's greatest happiness principle, in food stamps and welfare, we are looking out for each other by handing over our tax dollars to help those who cannot help themselves, whatever the reason(s) may be. But is food truly a right? Perhaps free housing is a right too? Why not jobs for everyone, regardless of experience in that field? This falls in an ideal world, where enough questions were not asked. Things need to be qualified, and as a human being, we all have our individual rights to do what we want. However, being born into this country and choosing to live here enters us into a social contract. This means that if you don't like the way it is here, leave, or fight for change. In contrast, we do all of those things. We have HUD housing, food stamps, welfare, and job assistance programs. In order to receive the benefits though, we fall back to qualification standards, making this fair for all.