[ars]

You're going to have a very very very hard time defining "basic necessity".

Electricity isn't a necessity, neither is internet access. Or maybe it is? Does that mean a phone is a basic necessity?

Is an x-ray machine a basic necessity?

[Y_Y]

I'm sure you're being rhetorical, but to some extent the answer is yes.

At least where I live, light and heat are basic rights and those are often most easily and cheaply provided by electrical means. X-ray machines, considered as part of adequate medical care, are similarly guaranteed.

I don't know that the internet is considered a "basic" necessity anywhere, but again we're entitled to education and to engage with the society in which we live, and the internet is a common and effective means for doing those. That said, I'm not aware of state-provided internet outside of libraries and schools.

[forgetfreeman]

The UN has strongly implied that internet access should be considered a basic human right, but haven't quite crossed the line to actually stating it plainly.

[jacquesm]

Given that in plenty of locations in the developed world you can now no longer function as a normal member of society without internet access because everything has gone online it makes good sense that it should be. Paper is pretty much done for, invoices are all pdfs, banking and interaction with the government on all levels is all online.

[ars]

That's the purpose of my rhetoric.

If we go by your definition, there's nothing left. Every single one of those things requires parts and if you're going to require all of that to be nonprofit, there's no commercial activity left.

[Y_Y]

I don't necessarily agree. If I have a "right" to transport that doesn't mean the government has to give me a car, maybe they provide a train and if I want a car I have to buy it commercially.

Even of the things listed above, their being a basic right doesn't preclude someone buying them. I pay for electricity like almost everyone else.here, but it won't be taken away from me even if I do not pay (though it's not worth the hassle unless I have really cannot afford to pay).

[ars]

I don't agree either, but that is the content of the message I was replying to, and it's the basis of this part of the discussion.

[mynameisash]

I'm not sure if there's a legal definition, but what I found[0] says that

> Essential services are the services and functions that are absolutely necessary, even during a pandemic. They maintain the health and welfare of the municipality. Without these services, sickness, poverty, violence, and chaos would likely result.

The listed examples of essential services include things not absolutely, positively necessary to protect life and limb:

* Maintenance of communication infrastructure (e.g., telephone system, radio, internet)

* Maintenance of utilities (e.g., gas and electricity)

* Transportation

* Road maintenance/repair

* Banking

* Payroll departments

* Tax collection

[0] https://www.paho.org/disasters/dmdocuments/RespToolKit_24_To...

[sensanaty]

In what universe is electricity in the year 2023 not a necessity? It's been a necessity for going on a century now

[blindhippo]

I'd argue it's not as hard as you seem to insinuate.

If a person wants to be able to live in their own accommodation there are some very key things they require. One of the most basic is a bank account (how do you pay rent without that?). Work backwards from just that one basic concept and you'll quickly see how easy it is to figure out what "basic necessities" are.

Granted, these will vary between economic regions, but it's quite simple to do so.