JAILED PERSONS ENTITLED TO ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE

The United States Supreme Court did it again!

 

The Court recently decided a case which in effect mandates the best health care for persons in jail. Better than what most honest and law abiding persons can afford or have available to them. The decision places felons, killers, rapists and armed robbers in a preferential position as far as health care is concerned. And at no cost to them, to boot!

 

In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that the absence of adequate health care for prisoners violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

 

The Court said prisoners have a Constitutionally protected right to adequate health care. Adequate meaning the best.

 

The decision was written by Justice Kennedy. He represents the swing vote on the Court which is otherwise evenly divided 4-4, conservative versus liberal. The conservative faction of the Court cannot be blamed for the decision. The four votes Justice Kennedy sided with were provided by the liberal members of the Court.

 

A significant quote from the decision reads.....Just as a prisoner may starve if not fed, he or she may suffer or die if not provided adequate medical care.

 

If prisoners are entitled to adequate health care, why not the entire population of the United States? The reason is simple. The citizenry has no similar Constitutional right as prisoners. The people are only entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No where in the Constitution does the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment apply to them. The cruel and unusual punishment prohibition only applies to prisoners.

 

What a screw job! Felons receive better health care than you and I. The taxpayer's once again pay and receive nothing for their money. Our tax dollars go to provide jailed persons with health care that most of us either do not have or can not afford.

 

I understand the decision from a legal stand point. However, I find it difficult to understand from a personal perspective. We pay and the prison population benefits. We get nothing in return, except perhaps the personal satisfaction in knowing that our tax dollars are going to provide some jailed killers, rapists and armed robbers with great health care. The same care very few of us can provide to our loved ones and ourselves.

 

Only in America.