02-03-2012, 10:56 AM
Parmandur,
Yes, I don't think anyone disputes that. The question is really whether this translates into a right for the poor to have their needs met, and, in either case, whether it is the government's place to enforce it (redistribution of wealth). Aquinas seems to say it is not a government's place to do that. I am particularly thinking about this in terms of health care. Can we say that health care is a right? Can we say that a government is right in providing it to all the citizens (setting aside practical considerations of whether this is a good idea)?
Yes, I don't think anyone disputes that. The question is really whether this translates into a right for the poor to have their needs met, and, in either case, whether it is the government's place to enforce it (redistribution of wealth). Aquinas seems to say it is not a government's place to do that. I am particularly thinking about this in terms of health care. Can we say that health care is a right? Can we say that a government is right in providing it to all the citizens (setting aside practical considerations of whether this is a good idea)?
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