Philosophy and Social Justice DQ response

Please provide a response (100-150) words to the paper below. Due before 6/3/13

In this week’s assignment, we are asked to look into whether we live in a just society or what our ideas of a just society are. My idea of a just society is one of people living free and having the ability to send their children to schools that will challenge them to become future leaders of this great country. I would also envision a society that takes care of its war veterans’, its elderly, and provide housing for those who cannot afford housing.

First, I believe we must change Washington, D.C., and get it back to what our ancestors envision it should be a government for the people by the people, instead of a government for the wealthy. The last time I checked from the President right down to the newest Senator, or Congressman, they make more than the average American.

Thomas Hobbes, who was credited with creating the social contract thought that people should enter in a social agreement, which would be enforced by a central authority that would ensure everyone’s safety (Chaffee pg.520). There was only one question, with this theory and that was honesty. If after you had entered into this social contract, you should retain the right to defend yourself against any attacks from other citizens (Chaffee pg.520).

John Locke also believed in this theory of the social contract, but he also that all of God’s creatures, and humans included should be entitled to “inalienable” rights (which meant these right could not be transferred), and these included the rights to life, liberty, health, and property (Chaffee pg.520). Locke also believed that no one had the right to try to take the rights away from us that are God given (Chaffee pg520).

Hobbes and Locke’s theories hold the basic principles on which our government was formed on, and which I hold great respect for and that is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Locke’s ideas of human rights helped to form the idea of this country’s Declaration of Independence, as well as the Bill of Rights (Chaffee pg.521).

So where does America stand as far as providing every child in this country with a good education, way down the list. We are 17th according to global report furnished by Pearson Education.(Huffington Post) Is the good enough, for this country never mind good enough for our children, who want to be astronauts, firemen, doctors, and lawyers, and future leaders, I don’t think so.

With Obama care starting next year, I will agree there are some good points, to this piece of legislation, such as the right to get treatment, prescription drugs, and the ability to get coverage if you have had a pre existing condition such as diabetes. However, there are many flaws as well, with the ability for people without insurance, such as those with drug abuse, it will make it easier for them to come into the hospital and get the drugs they are addicted to as painkillers. It will also change how our elderly are treated as well, especially those that are at a skilled nursing facility, if they come into a hospital from a facility a hospital will have three days to get them better before the are sent back, and once back at their facility, if they get sick again they have to come in under a different diagnosis to get treated again or Medicaid won’t pay.

So is this a good deal for our senior citizens?, I don’t think so, and also with this piece of legislation, it is forcing some of our country’s best doctors out of practice, those doctors who have been around for a few years, because of the pending paperwork that they must fill out. I not a fan of government run healthcare, I think that the government has too much say already in our healthcare system, as they require a time limit on how long a patient must stay in a emergency room. I would like to our government fix problems with Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, so our children have a future to look forward to, as well as senior citizens.

Going back to last week’s lesson, I guess the only theory I can see that our current government would fall under would be the utilitarian theory, because Mill summed it up pretty well with this theory “the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people” except this only holds true for a select few.

Joey

References:

Chaffee. (2010). Philosopher's Way, The: Thinking Critically About Profound Ideas, 3/e for EDMC (1st ed). Pearson Learning Solutions. Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781256507666/id/ch01

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/best-education-in-the-wor_n_2199795.html