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Politics : About that Cuban boy, Elian
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To: epicure who wrote (8190)7/7/2000 12:48:36 PM
From: Lane3  Read Replies (1) of 9127
 
Does a kid in the ghetto with parents (excuse me- probably "a parent") who shoot up and beat him and starve him of proper nutrients have a "free choice"- no not really.

Kids and freedom of choice. It's hard for me to think about kids and freedom of choice in the political context of freedom that we've been discussing. Kids are supposed to be under the benevolent despotism of their parents, who limit their choices in a beneficial way. Free choice, IMO, is not a positive thing when you're too young to use it wisely. Far too many kids are left on their own to get into all kinds of trouble because mom's too high and/or dad's too gone. And during those brief times when mom and dad are attentive, they're making life so miserable for the kids that leaving them alone to make lousy choices seems like a blessing. So sad.

We all have our choices constrained by circumstances, by natural endowments, by our previous choices, and by the choices our parents made for us before we were emancipated. I agree that the minority poor in America are often so constrained that they are, as you say, between the proverbial rock and hard place--that even the pursuit of happiness can be out of reach. To the extent that the government tolerates discrimination or other institutions that obviate opportunity, IMO, it's no better than Castro in the freedom department.

Karen
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