Bernie Sanders: Add new 'rights' to U.S. Constitution

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders, pursuing once again the Democratic Party's nomination for president, is insisting Americans have "rights" that aren't mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

He says that Americans are "entitled" to "a decent job that pays a living wage, the right to quality health care, the right to a complete education, the right to affordable housing, the right to a clean environment, the right to a secure retirement."

Every American, regardless of income, is entitled to:

The right to a decent job that pays a living wage.
The right to quality health care.
The right to a complete education.
The right to affordable housing.
The right to a clean environment.
The right to a secure retirement.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 11, 2019

Some Twitter users exposed the flaw in his argument.

"Awesome. Since we're rewriting the Constitution can we put in there that we also have a right to a lifetime supply of dark chocolate, ice cream every Friday, not to be yelled at if we're late for 'work,' 20 hour work weeks, $100 hr minimum wage, and we get to take our pets," wrote Kash Jackson.

Another appeared frustrated.

"Leave us alone, stop trying to control everything, stop overtaxing, stop importing foreigners that we have to take care of … STOP STOP STOP," wrote Twitter user Steph. "Go get a job, Bernie. You've never had one and it will help you understand."

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution, lists specific prohibitions on governmental power.

For example, Congress is prohibited from making laws establishing religion or abridging freedom of speech. Citizens are protected from unreasonable government intrusion in their homes. The Constitution also specifies that any power not specifically given to Congress is reserved to the people and the states.

Besides the First Amendment's protections for speech, the press, assembly and religion, the Second Amendment protects the rights of an armed citizenry. Another prevents soldiers from being stationed in peoples' homes, and another guarantees jury trials and prevents excessive fines.

Twitter news aggregator Twitchy note Sanders "isn't just promising people free stuff, he's saying it's their RIGHT to have free stuff."

"He left off, 'Americans should have a right to a free unicorn.' Bernie. Literally (yes, literally) none of those things are rights."