THE SOCIAL-CONTRACT AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELDERLY

Over the years, the concept of the social contract has been interpreted from various perspectives. The major questions in the debate concerning the social contract are: Who shall be targeted for protection under the contract? What are the basic rights covered under the social contract? And what is the responsibility of the government in the implementation of the contract? This article explores the issue of whether or not the most vulnerable of the elderly have a basic right to protection under the social contract that binds members of society as equal partners in a compact that guarantees all members certain basic rights.