Sinners versus Saints

Going back to Chp 1 of our good 'ole book, I do believe that health care is a positive right. By definition, a positive right is imposes obligations on society to provide adequate services so that each individual in that society is able to exercise this right. The Roma populations in Italy are clearly discriminated against to appalling degrees, as evidenced by the photo essay posted. It represents a good starting off point, however, to discuss why people within a society may harbor such resentment towards a population of people.
Controversy exists surrounding vulnerable populations. Those viewed to be undeserving perhaps engage in deviant, high-risk behavior and are now in greater need of health care. People may argue that those who knowingly place themselves in this situation should not be utilizing our health care resources. On the contrary, veterans, children, and those with chronic illnesses outside of their control will be granted a higher level of sympathy and are viewed as a deserving vulnerable populations. These sentiments have a rippling effect on policies. If society as a whole is unwilling to help ALL those in need based on stereotypes and moral judgments, then we are less likely to have policies in place to help these people.
It's important to remember that those same people who are involved with sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Uhh...prolly not, are at a disadvantage from the start, maybe b/c they live in areas where all of these things are more prevalent and socially acceptable. Perhaps they do not have the parental oversight that others in more affluent areas enjoy simply b/c their parents need to work long hours simply to make ends meet financially. Or perhaps mental illnesses cause people to turn to other means as a method of self medication. Whatever the reason may be, it simply isn't our right to judge why people are in their paricular situations. Beyond that, noone should have the ability to deny someone's inalienable human right to a respectable level of well being.