[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Arlo]
> So driving a delivery truck is an intellectual activity. Pretty much everything
> is I gather, including organized religion (which requires as much organization
> as a football team).

Driving a truck, no. Designing and figuring out what's wrong with a truck, yes.
Theology is definitely intellectual, as is the theory of evolution.

> [Platt]
> ... those who work for a living are more moral than those who live off the work
> of others.
> 
> [Arlo]
> No. Those who value human life more than wealth are more moral than those who do
> not.

You value the life of a Hussein more than Bill Gates? Wow!

> [Platt]
> Considering that civilization depends on the wealth creators, not the parasites,
> I think it's the only state of affairs that makes moral sense.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Let's take a scenario. Joe works all his life as a miner in West Virginia. One
> day, the mine closes and he is unemployed. He takes a job as a cashier at a
> local Gas-N-Sip, but doesn't earn enough to afford medical insurance. Soon
> after, his daughter is diagnosed with cancer. Should she or should she not
> receive medical attention?

What sort of medical attention do you have in mind?
 
> Change the scenario. He lands a new job that does provide health insurance, but
> his daughter's cancer was previously diagnosed and his new insurance won't
> cover existing illnesses, so her coverage is dropped. Should she or should she
> not receive medical attention.

Same question as above. 

> [Platt]
> Without guns, no government has power. Mobs are the least reliable source for
> forming governments.
> 
> [Arlo]
> A government derives its mandate from the people. Those who live therein
> voluntarily abide by its laws... laws that are socially-derived. Or you could
> move away...

Tell that to the people of Russia under Stalin, or of China under Mayo, or those
currently under ayatollahs in Iran. 

> [Platt]
> Guess you have a hard time telling the difference between a voluntary and a
> forced association.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Well, in that case taxes are voluntary too. You could choose not to partake in
> the economy, as Case suggests, or you could simply move away. No one is forcing
> you to stay in America? Or forcing you to partake of our economy? Are they,
> Platt?? Seems to be you are quite free to become a hobo or move to another
> country.

Taxes are voluntary? Even a bum pays sales taxes for a bottle of win. As for the
"move if you don't like it here" argument, I'm surprised you resort to that. 

> [Arlo]
> And I voluntarily (and gladly) support our social safety net as well... to
> preserve the value of human life.

Seems to me the value of human life did just fine before there was any such
thing as a social "safety net." This country wasn't built by people seeking
handouts.






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