Thomas Jefferson, "I predict future happiness for AMericans if they can prevent the govt from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

Yes. Saying people have the right to happiness depreciates the very idea of rights. People can have the right for the gov't NOT to do something, but people don't have the right for gov't *to* do something. People certainly don't have the right to something abstract like happiness. I don't even think they were talking about happiness of any particular sort. I think they were just saying you have the right to live as you please and pursue whatever goals you want (i.e. happiness.).

I have often put this as "you have a right to anything another person does not have to provide" [Rand's "blank check" reference]

No you don't have a right to an abortion. That would mean that a doctor would have to provide one for you, which makes her a slave, and that's a NO! No, you don't have a right to an education, housing, health care....I thought we outlawed slavery, and here they are, reinstating it.

Another very relevant quote from Ayn. I say she was one intelligent lady!