Does your life belong to you or to society? Is it fair for me to say that my life is my very own, and no one else should have influence over how I live it?
I ask this because of all the laws in place that affact what we do with our lives. For example, it is ileagal to operate a motor vehicle without a seatbelt. In some states, operation of a motorcycle without a helmet is ileagal. And too often I see people suffering in the hospital kept alive merely to suffer that much longer, because it is not right to help them to painlessly end their lives (Dr. Kovorkian proved that helping these people would get you in a lot of trouble.)
If my life where truly my own, then why am I ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt when it would cause no harm to anyone other then myself? Why would someone be ticketed for no helmet on a motorcycle? And for godsakes, why should our sick and suffering be made to continue to suffer for the betterment of doctors bank accounts and to ease mental anguish of family?
2007-10-17 05:34:03 · 7 answers · asked by theCATALYST 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's a moral (religious/cultural) and ethical (personal, associative) difference of opinion -- some codes of behavior say that your role as part of a community must take precedence over your personal decisions -- some say the reverse.
Personally, I believe that each person should be allowed to live their life however they want and do (or not do) whatever they want -- as long as their actions do not prevent anyone else from doing the same. And that includes my opposition to govt regulations that control behavior when the behavior doesn't harm or affect anyone else besides myself.
As for Kevorkian -- he was prosecuted because he personally killed someone -- which is crossing a line from assisted suicide into euthanasia. Whether one person is allowed to kill themselves -- with or without help -- is different whether they are allowed to consent to someone else killing them.
Society right now chooses to draw the line as prohibiting both -- except in one state in the US and several other countries where assisted suicide (but not euthanasia) -- is sometimes allowed. I support the right to assisted suicide -- but I oppose euthanasia.
2007-10-17 05:58:14 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lets start with seatbelts and helmets...
For comparison purposes, retail stores have a profit margin they need to obtain to stay in business. Shoplifters cut into their profits, so they are forced to raise their prices to offset for the losses. In the end, everyone pays higher prices because of shoplifting.
Insurance companies are no different. They need to make money too. The cost of replacing a vehicle is quite small compared to health care from accidents. The more the insurance companies pay for health care, the higher insurance rates go. It is proven seat belts and helmets decrease injuries, and lead to lesser health care. So, for comparison, you not wearing you seat belt has the same economic effect on my insurance rates that shoplifiting has on retail prices.
That is the premise for the seat belt and helmet laws. And I am well aware that a seatbelt occasionaly can contribute to injuries, but that is a small fraction of all accidents.
As far as the other issue, I do agree there comes a time when quality of life should be considered, and there comes a time to let a person go. The problem with that is establishing a standard guide. Who gets to determine this? And how would you go about passing this law? Unless you have seen a loved one suffer, you have no idea how difficult this is on everyone involved, so there would be too many moral persons out there that would oppose this, a politician would be taking quite a chance.
2007-10-17 05:47:55 · answer #2 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, the problem with the seatbelt analogy is that 1) if you are killed in someone else's car because you weren't wearing a seatbelt that person can be sued for everything they have plus some. Insurance costs go up, mortality rates go up, and every one has to pay for your living independent.
2) If you don't wear a seatbelt it is likely that your kids won't either. So now, you are making a decision (even if it isn't taught but learned) for more people and their lives.
3) If you sit in the backseat and don't wear a seat belt, you might kill the person in the front seat from the 150lbs + of mass headed their way.
4) Do people that you get into an accident with really want to be responsible for your life lost? Some people never recover from that kinda stuff. Especially when there is something that takes 1 second to do that could eliminate all of that. Even if you break yor neck or something...
5) If you fly through your windshield and are beheaded (which happens) or your skull is crushed... how many people want to see that on their front lawn? How many want to see that at all? You get me?
2007-10-17 05:42:57 · answer #3 · answered by E M 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your life would only truly be your own and nobody else's if you were not a member of a society. But since you are, there are certain sacrifices you must make in areas where your life interacts with society. Thus, taking reasonable steps to protect your life and health are acceptable, since your death or serious injury would affect others as well as yourself.
I do agree with you that people who have no chance to live a normal, productive, pain-free life should be allowed to choose to end that life, as long as they make the decision competently.
2007-10-17 05:42:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good Q. Insurance companies pushed those laws through. They are the ones fitting the bill for people who rock it beltless. The stats show that seatbelts prevent the long drawn out hospital visits. As far as pulling the plug; if you tell your loved ones to pull the plug when it's time, the hospital will listen to them. (After giving it a good ole college try).
2007-10-17 05:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by Tim 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the International Socialist Welfare Police State that is the US where the only thing that is really yours is your opinion. Now, we the people are freer than most people in most countries and we don't have to worry too much about getting drug out into the street and shot in the head for expressing our opinion, but wait: that day may come. Suggesting that people should be aloud to not wear seat belts or helmets or that you shouldn't have to spend every last penny you have to keep your loved ones alive!? Is that a knock on YOUR door....
2007-10-17 06:01:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you run for president let me know! lol!!
lets add being told what to eat, guess were not smart enough to figure some things out on our own and need to be told what to do! theyll be happy when we all run around like robots!
2007-10-17 05:45:12 · answer #7 · answered by cee 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋