"The primary extortion which enables our society is: 'Work or Die'"

- Art Hoppe

That simple statement, written several years ago by the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist, confers a stunning moral indictment on every aspect of our society. Like it or not, we live in a country which does not recognize the most basic human rights: food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education, much less enough time for spiritual practice or adequate leisure.

Our Constitution makes no mention of these rights. We have consistently refused, from its inception, to sign the United Nations...