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I’d like every American to be guaranteed health care, higher education and meaningful employment — things some Democratic candidates for president frequently refer to as “rights.” Trouble is, these are not rights, and to frame them as such is counterproductive to good causes.
In announcing her candidacy in January, Sen. Kamala Harris of California said, “I am running to declare education is a fundamental right, and we will guarantee that right with universal pre-K and debt-free college.” That’s an admirable goal, but it’s not a right, at least not yet.