On 5/31/2010 1:13 PM, Bob W wrote:
yes, sure, but that's changing the terms of the discussion. So far the discussion has been about whether the state has a right to force the individual to something 'for his own good'. I say it doesn't.
It could be that you and I had a discussion on close but different sets of terms here. I see your point now.
I say that the State *may have* a right to force (or very strongly recommend) something to the individual if it prevents severe harm to individual's health or may be even their death.
Now, the classic starting point for liberalism is that you are free to do whatever you want, provided you don't infringe the right of other people to do the same. The state is an institution that we have established to guarantee that principle. Therefore it does have to try and protect me from other people's stupidity in as much as that stupidity might prevent me from going about my lawful business. That's why we enforce red traffic lights, and have gun laws and such like. At the same time, it doesn't absolve me from the responsibility to look after myself.
That I can agree with. Sans the attribution of this principle to liberalism. It is more "live and let live" kind of reasoning to me.
Children are also protected by the state but they are in a special position because unlike normal adults they are not fully autonomous members of society yet. They are under the stewardship of their parents and their parents have the first responsibility for their well-being. The parents have to make the minute-by-minute decisions about what is best for the child, including whether or not it is safe to leave them in the back of a car. Once you start leaving that sort of decision to other people, particularly the state, you might just as well herd all the kids into state-run boarding schools where they will, no doubt, be much safer... Bob
By saying that parents have to make minute-by-minute decisions you actually assign quite a lot to the parents. Modern society goes very long way to make one's life easier, so to say. And here you are asking parents to make minute-by-minute decisions... I don't think it is too liberal, you know.
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