In 2014, a deadly strain of the Ebola virus killed a large number of people in West Africa, mainly in the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Many American doctors and nurses traveled to those countries to assist the victims of that virus. Shortly afterwards, some governors in the United States issued orders that anyone who visited those three countries must be quarantined in their homes for 21 days on returning to the United States. Then-governor of Maine, Paul LePage, justified his quarantine order by saying, “While we certainly respect the rights of one individual, we must be vigilant in protecting 1.3 million Mainers, as well as anyone who visits our
great state.” In response, American nurse Kaci Hickox refused to follow that
quarantine order, saying, So many states have started enacting these
policies that I think are just completely not evidence-based. They don't do
a good job of balancing the risks and benefits when thinking about taking
away an individual's rights."
Use the scenario and your knowledge of U. S. Government and Politics to
answer parts A, B, and C.
A. Describe natural rights philosophy.
B. Describe one way in which the scenario relates to the concept of
natural rights.
C. Explain one way in which the quarantine illustrates the government's
role of balancing individual liberty with social order.