Again, it wasn't the government's decision. It was a decision made by the family and doctors who did know her. Since the family did not agree, a state court settled the matter. That should have been the end of it.
I hope if I'm ever in the situation Shaivo was in, they unplug me and set my spirit free. Can you imagine being trapped inside a body that no longer functions? But, in the final analysis, whatever decision you or I would make, it is not a decision that the government should be making.
I would not abort a fetus unless said fetus was not viable, or unless the life of the mother were threatened. That is my value, which I'm not willing to impose on the rest of society. Just when it's OK is not my decision, nor is it the decision of the government. It is the decision of the mother, the father (if known), and the doctor.
Smoking cigarettes will kill you, eventually, and sets a lousy example for kids. Smoking pot won't, but is also a lousy example for kids and makes the smoker a little goofy (if he wasn't already). Let the smoker decide what to smoke, but keep the kids out of it.
My philosophy is that you, or anyone else, should be allowed to smoke whatever you want, just so long as it is outdoors and downwind.
Is it the "left" that passes laws against cutting down trees? Maybe so, I'm not sure. The definition of "left" is pretty murky, it seems to me. As for the right, that's murky, too. Are "social conservatives", i.e. authoritarians, part of the "right"? How about the Patriot Act? Was that "right" or "left"? Asset forfeiture laws? Right, or left?
Oh, I don't think people are going to fasten seat belts because the government won't pick up their health care costs if they don't. Responsible people wear seat belts, and don't expect the government to pay their bills. Irresponsible people do neither. Anyway, it's not necessarily the government that helps them, but the hospitals.
Now, that's a workable idea. of course, it doesn't have the secondary benefit of thinning out the stupid people, but it would help increase the number of donor organs, plus provide a form of life insurance. Write your congressman. You have a good idea there.
