[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
You don't have much of an understanding of economics, do you. If you are not healthy, then you cannot produce economic output.

Tough. Think of it as incentive to get better. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking, after all. Besides, you can produce output even while not healthy. It'll just require that you suffer. But you know what? No pain, no gain.

No, it shows how ignorant you are of weather in any parts of the world outside of your own narrow little worldview.

I have travelled far more of the world than you likely have. I am aware that people have legs for a reason: So that when conditions do not suit them, they can get off their fat asses and MOVE. It's not like yours were shot off in the war, like some people I know. Those people deserve my compassion. Those who simply can't be bothered to do something on their own, even though they certainly CAN, don't.

Because a person's life has value simply because of the fact that they are human. If you can't understand this basic fact, then there is no point in continuing this discussion.

I do not see why I should place more value on someone's own life than they place on it themselves. Your life is not worth more to a total stranger than it is to you. People should run their own lives. If somebody feels that running his own life is too burdensome and would rather be someone else's responsibility, maybe he should sell himself into slavery. At least then he will have an owner who will be obligated to protect his investment.

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:
No, it's called observation. You haven't demonstrated a great deal of maturity, have no time committments, and have demonstrated that you are still stuck at the ethical level of a child. If you aren't actually a teenager then you definetly lead a sad existence.

I have no time commitments because I am comfortably and independently retired. Something YOU might wish to aspire to. I have the ethical level of a child? Maybe my ethics don't agree with yours, but I have a clear and consistent code by which I live, and am not a psychotic axe murderer.

Why would I go hungry? I'm a graduate engineering student who hasn't lived with or depended on my parents for over six years. I have no debts, pay my bills every month, and could get any number of well-paying jobs if I decided to quit grad school.

So you've been fortunate your entire life. That puts you in a great position to comment on the misfortunes of others, now doesn't it? I, on the other hand, have been in the position of being UNABLE TO AFFORD said healthcare, food, and lodging. You know what? I SURVIVED. Oddly, you don't see me advocating that this stuff be made available to all at somebody else's expense.