Alternative Title
An Economic Bill of Rights Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.
Publication Date
Spring 5-2018
Abstract
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prescribed that we add an economic bill of rights to the U.S. Constitution. A King-Inspired bill of rights should include a constitutional amendment that enumerates a natural human right to be free from economic poverty, and appropriate enforcement legislation.
For the sake of abolishing slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment says:
(Section 1) Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
(Section 2) Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Similarly, for the sake of abolishing poverty, a King-Inspired Amendment should say:
(Section 1) Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, nor economic poverty, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
(Section 2) Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Legislation appropriate to King’s prescriptions for abolishing economic poverty will seek to “create incomes” by providing well-paid jobs and new forms of work that “enhance the social good” supplemented by “guaranteed income” for all and special measures for those who are disadvantaged (MLK Jr.).
Document Type
Article
Keywords
abolition of poverty, economic poverty, economic bill of rights, human rights, International Covenant for Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
Disciplines
African American Studies | American Studies | Applied Ethics | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Constitutional Law | Digital Humanities | Economics | Economic Theory | Ethics and Political Philosophy | Human Rights Law | Income Distribution | Intellectual History | Law | Natural Law | Philosophy | Political Economy | Political History | Religion Law | Social Welfare Law | Supreme Court of the United States | United States History
Recommended Citation
Walker, Theodore, "A Martin Luther King Jr. Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Toward the Abolition of Poverty" (2018). Perkins Faculty Research and Special Events. 14.
https://scholar.smu.edu/theology_research/14
Included in
African American Studies Commons, American Studies Commons, Applied Ethics Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Constitutional Law Commons, Digital Humanities Commons, Economic Theory Commons, Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, Income Distribution Commons, Intellectual History Commons, Natural Law Commons, Political Economy Commons, Political History Commons, Religion Law Commons, Social Welfare Law Commons, Supreme Court of the United States Commons, United States History Commons
