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You don't have a right to safe drinking water, US court rules (www.motherjones.com)
submitted 2 days ago by [B] to c/us_news@lemmy.world
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[+] -9 points 2 days ago (1 child)

I hate it, but they are right. Except maybe in a very, very broad sense. "Right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is in the Declaration of Independence. Hard to argue that knowingly letting people consume contaminated water without informing them follows the spirit of "right to life." But AFAIK, that's not binding in any way.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 days ago* (1 child)

    This shouldn't be about what's in the declaration or constitution or whatever. This is about what humans need to live. Those people got poisoned and the governments stance is "oh well, it's not written down they shouldn't be"? Fuck off with that shit

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  • [–] -1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 child)

    That's the whole point of the legislative system. Morality may determine what laws get made/passed, but they aren't the same. That's why this can be morally reprehensible but still legal. And just because it's not unconstitutional doesn't mean there aren't state or local laws that don't cover this. Even the article states that several states have constitutional provisions that cover this.

    EDIT: Changed legal to legeslative to differentiate between the judicial system.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 days ago (1 child)

    That does not mean they're right though. The US legal system is absolutely bonkers and does not serve to protect regular people at all. Most of the world views clean drinking water as a human right. But in America you're shit out of luck if the government knowingly poisons you with it and you try to do something about it.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 days ago

    Right in what context? Legally? Cause this article proves otherwise. Morally? Of course they aren't. This is why every damn thing has to be enshrined in writing. Can't guarantee asshats won't pull stuff like this just cause it's technically not against the law.

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