Scientia

Unfortunately, I have seen disability advocates portrayed as backward for questioning assisted suicide. Having seen people with multiple disabilities live with great dignity and courage, this article makes a lot of sense, and gives some understanding of the advocate's positions And, I do have sympathy for those who truly want to end their life after a lot of rational reflection.

I need to vote up for this one, just on the basis of the responses to it. It reflects the age old problem of state homicide. Of course, the beneficent state always knows who to kill. We are to passively consent to their decisions. And if anyone raises an eyebrow, one can always bring out the case of worst child murderer or rapist. We have one of the largest prison systems in the world, and yet one of the largest homicide rates, not counting state sanctioned homicide. So yeah, defend mega-prisons and capital punishment! Bring it on, in fact, why don't we bring back public torture and execution? You know, some of those hippy shit people really do indulge in paganism, so why don't we burn them at the stake after making them repent--after some torture (and rape!). At least they will enjoy, maybe, an eternity of peace in paradise. Yes, let us return to traditional values!

Isn't it hard having to think about alternative solutions to our big problems? Hurts the brain doesn't it? Well, not to worry, all the system requires of us is that we get off our fat asses every two to four years and flip a lever, assuming elections don't conflict with a football game. This cartoon causes a lot of heart ache? Do not worry, more money will go to prisons and the machine will roll on. Meanwhile, when my car gets smashed into and ripped off, or my friend is beaten in her own home, criminals in distant prisons who fry in the chair will certainly make us feel better.

Though it is good that some scientists consider the spiritual side of existence, speculation about a deity bordering on physics supports metaphysics. We will never be rid of metaphysics, and that may be a good thing, contrary to what many modern philosophers may want. However, philosophical pantheism, theism, or deism does not necessarily support any specific religion, or any religion at all. This is where the (old) arguments from design end up backfiring on some people: it does not need to point to an extra-cosmic God in the Biblical sense of the word.

We keep getting sad news like this, though I never see it amplified in the stations of the electronic media. Ignorance and indifference mask these extinctions.

That's right, dust! It never sleeps.

I always knew this--the power of negative thinking.