A Bill of Missing Rights

A Bill of Missing Rights

Whereas, the original bill of rights permitted slavery of black people, both men and women, and all women of all races, wanton disregard for and exploitation of the environment, and other abuses of economic and political might too numerous to list; we therefore declare the following rights fundamentally necessary to secure blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all:

  • The right to food and nutrition adequate for health and well-being;
  • The right to competent medical and dental services as necessary to maintain good health and quality of life;
  • The right to adequate housing;
  • The right to both privacy and safety. The property, dignity, actions, and bodies of human beings as they peaceably and lawfully conduct their daily affairs comprise an inviolable boundary against uninvited and unnecessary intrusions;
  • The right to adequate basic and vocational and/or professional education necessary to secure employment that is reasonably consistent with the individual talents, abilities, potential and happiness of every human being;
  • The right to procreative and sexual autonomy, to birth control, abortion, prenatal care, gynecological, midwifery and obstetrical services, and sex education and information;
  • The right to full disclosure of anything potentially dangerous to human health or life, including any potential side effects of drugs or medications, potentially toxic substances in food, any poisons, irradiation, drugs, hormones, or other treatments used in food production; all possible consequences of medical procedures and exposures to hazards in work, living, and other environments;
  • The right to free and unlimited access to any and all government files, documents and information of whatever kind, excepting instructions for creating weapons of mass destruction. The government belongs to the people, not bureaucrats;
  • The right to prevent unwarranted disruptions of ecological quality and balance, including: nuclear power; radioactive, ozone-depleting or other unconfined, unselective harmful substances; high energy waves; genetically-engineered forms of life; the endangering of species; deforestation; strip mining, monoculture; deep tilling, cloud seeding; overfishing; whaling and other ecologically irresponsible practices. An appropriate bounty shall be paid for evidence of covert polluting or poaching. The people or legislators of any state or locality may vote for additional specific restrictions, including banning or taxing the production, sale, or use of any selected polluting substance within that area. The earth belongs to all human beings and to the animals and its health and survival are of paramount and central importance to the survival of all life.
  • The right to fair and equal consideration, treatment and opportunity before the law, and in all fields of endeavor, without regard to sex, ethnicity, or persuasion.
  • Nothing in this Bill shall be construed to deny or limit any right defined in the Constitution or its Amendments. As Amendment IX states: “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” The people of any local community or state may vote to overrule any restrictions on rights, or tighten rules on business activities, regardless of previous recognition.