To: Solon who wrote (16785 ) 6/15/2001 9:18:01 AM From: average joe Read Replies (1) | Respond to "Leaving aside (for a minute) the specific issue of abortion funding;" Why, can't you juggle more than one concept at once?"I think when it comes to considering the appropriate role of government in subsidizing the individual in various ways, it becomes necessary to be somewhat more pragmatic than principled." There are no appropriate ways in a free society. Your responsibility is to take care of yourself lest you become a burden. There can be no pragmatism without principles."Human beings have certain physical needs; but they also have social and psychological needs. The truth is that, at the point where individuals no longer identify themselves as being valuable and valued in the social structure--we will either help them to some degree--or they will help themselves. If they help themselves, we pay over and over." Taxpayers who fund the whole process have social and psychological needs which should supersede the abusers of the system. "It isn't just the shoplifting, the stolen vehicles, the robberies, etc. But it is the cost of prosecution, prison time, and so forth." No! Those who damage and steal and hurt others should pay, they steal they should pay back they rack up court costs they should pay back. If people were held responsible for their actions they would act responsibly."In terms of abortion, I have never believed that anyone should have to fund something which violates a strong religious belief. If someone believes they are contributing to murder and thus (in their own mind) placing their own soul at risk, then I think that there can be no justification, in a country which values religious freedom, for forcing anyone to act against conscience. But this opens up a whole can of worms where there do not appear to be any pat answers." Soul? Why put that spin on it? Keep it in practical economic terms Padre, keep it between the pines, this is not a religious discussion. There are pat answers and the first one is to stop funding others moral choices like they were helpless cattle. A woman runs out one night and has an urge to buy a gun and shoot herself in the foot, why should you pay the cab fare, the cost of loading the ammo, the rental of the gun, the ambulance ride, the psychological counseling, the medication... It's not your foot. If you have some need to nurture something go to the pound and get a stray dog.
