Progressives/leftists believe it's OK to define rights over things that don't exist yet (say, food that isn't yet planted or care from a future doctor who might prefer to golf that day instead of exposing himself to your disease). The conservatives/rightists think it's OK to define rights that make it easy to ignore others' suffering.
I don't understand this -- it doesn't make sense to me.
It was my attempt to rephrase the "massive difference" posts by WalterL and TheAncientGreek, above.
WalterL taking the rightist side, asserting a right to freedom from coercion and that being forced to support others is a form of slavery. TheAncientGreek takes the leftist side in asserting a right to welfare being far preferable than a charitable state of support.
These rights are in direct conflict. Person A's right to welfare requires that person B is mandated to provide it. Person B's right to choose her own activities implies that person A might not get fed or housed.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
Notes for future OT posters:
1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.
2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one. (Immediately before; refresh the list-of-threads page before posting.)
3. Open Threads should be posted in Discussion, and not Main.
4. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.