The New Bill of Rights

Have you ever heard of the second Bill of Rights? Well, a second Bill of rights was imparted by president Roosevelt in 1944. The newer version of the Bill of Rights included social changes like the right to a remunerative job (1938), decent living, food, clothing, health care and protection linked to age, accidents and education. In 1987 president Reagan introduced deeper Economic Rights : freedom of work, the right to enjoy one's labor, control over one's property, access free market.

Nonetheless, in a context of economic inflation, a global pandemic and further more inequalities can there be any more progression in welfare?

Healthcare:

The issue: With medical care being provided to wealthy people only, disadvantaged people don't have access to medical infrastructures -let alone healthcare- and are compelled to the use of hard drugs like opium to ease the pain they're going through. The most fortunate among them however, resort to medical tourism. Covid-19 has been a palpable proof of the American healthcare's limitations despite programs and policies like the Obamacare's existence.

Solution: The solution would be a wider access to healthcare like democrat politician, Bernie Sanders suggested in 2016.

Education:

The Issue: School and higher education in America is are seen as a privilege. So much, that in order to be enrolled in a private school and in Colleges, students are ready to have student debts. It leads to more inequalities and resentment towards education.

Solution: Democrats such as Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Bernie Sanders have suggested:

• The taxation of the Wall Street transitions as an alternative to student tuition fees.

• Further investments in historical minority serving colleges and educational institutions.

• A mass funding of public middle schools and high schools to avoid dropouts.

Labor workers:

In the matter of workers, a major issue caused by unemployment is the overdevelopment of Gig Economy. Indeed, part-time jobs such as Uber driving have become more than just jobs. We can note that more students and young people resort to gig economy in order to fight against loans and unemployment in a general, hence the ineligibility for welfare.

More than just an alternative, the 2012 Fight for 15 has lead multiple states to consider raising the minimum wage. Though the federal government didn't take actions, few States themselves have taken the responsibility to negotiate a raise of minimum wage. That's a start!

History has taught us that the Bill of Rights are a bundle of rights that are applicable to everyone and able to facilitate everyday life and coexistence in the USA. The most recent rights added though, demonstrates the limits of the ancient Bill of rights and the need of newness directly linked to our century's realities. Many of the solutions had already been suggested by Bernie Sanders in 2016. Partisan polarisation pushes American citizens to ignore the major solutions that can only been found in the third political parties. Could third parties actually be the key?

Stay tuned! xo xo