Progressives and Eugenics: Knowing whats best for others

[Doc]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

The original article I posted is from Salon.com a self professed progressive web site. I give them credit for admitting to the progressives' very dark past. But my point is that they have consistently felt they know what is best for others. Even when they say things like "PERIOD" Like I said in another thread all you ave to do is look at the comments section of any Obamacare article to see that this is not culture war It is a pocket book / third rail of politics issue that is not going to go away anytime soon no matter where one looks. Just watch Obamcare is the gift- energizer bunny. It is going to keep giving and giving and giving

[Typhoon]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

The original article I posted is from Salon.com a self professed progressive web site. I give them credit for admitting to the progressives' very dark past. But my point is that they have consistently felt they know what is best for others. Even when they say things like "PERIOD" Like I said in another thread all you ave to do is look at the comments section of any Obamacare article to see that this is not culture war It is a pocket book / third rail of politics issue that is not going to go away anytime soon no matter where one looks. Just watch Obamcare is the gift- energizer bunny. It is going to keep giving and giving and giving

The one thing that progressives and conservatives have in common is that both sides believe that they know what is best for others.

[Simple Minded]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

true nuff. If I can't convince you that I have your best interests at heart, then the least I can do is to try to convince you that the other guy wants to stick it up your poop chute, and I'm your best defense!

"A man that has no virtue in himself, ever envies virtue in others, for men's minds will either feed upon their own good or upon other's evil, and he who lacks the one will prey upon the other."
Fancis Bacon

"If you let yourself be made out in the right by another, you must no less let yourself be made out in the wrong by him. If approval and reward come to you from another, you must also expect his disapproval and punishment."
Max Stirner

[Azrael]

Lesbian eugenics marches on with "Designer Baby" firm Genepeeks

[Doc]

Lesbian eugenics marches on with "Designer Baby" firm Genepeeks

Great link Azrael. I am wondering if a gene for example autism was found that had a 1 in a 1,000 chance of expression in a child would people select the gene out of existence ? Even if the same gene pattern went along with say high intelligence? It seems like playing God can be tough.

[Mr. Perfect]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

If only I could live tax and government free in my own country.

[Typhoon]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

If only I could live tax and government free in my own country.

As fanciful a wish as a worker's paradise on earth.

[Enki]

LOL, then it wouldn't be a country.

[Doc]

LOL, then it wouldn't be a country.

That's what they all say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand

[Enki]

LOL, then it wouldn't be a country.

That's what they all say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand

You're kidding right?

[Doc]

LOL, then it wouldn't be a country.

That's what they all say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand

You're kidding right?

Kidding about what? ;)Or did that double entendre go right over your head? Though by some definitions of statehood Germany and Britain do recognize Sealand.

[Mr. Perfect]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

If only I could live tax and government free in my own country.

As fanciful a wish as a worker's paradise on earth.

With an attitude like that.

[Mr. Perfect]

LOL, then it wouldn't be a country.

Spoken like a true leftist. Can't imagine a country or community without a state.

I'm always a man of compromise. How about we meet in the middle and agree to a 50-75% reduction in government and taxes.

[Typhoon]

The only thing I've learned from this discussion is that N Am conservatives and progressive lives entirely rent free in each other's heads.

If only I could live tax and government free in my own country.

As fanciful a wish as a worker's paradise on earth.

With an attitude like that.

No. Simply historical precedent and current trends; human nature.

[Mr. Perfect]

People say that racism is human nature and has historical precedent.

[Mr. Perfect]

The one thing that progressives and conservatives have in common is that both sides believe that they know what is best for others.

Same thing with moderates.

[Typhoon]

People say that racism is human nature and has historical precedent.

People say a lot of things which may or may not be correct.

[Simple Minded]

People say a lot of things which may or may not be correct.

Seems to be true more often of "them"..... rather than "us".... which is why "we" so often disagree......

or as the wise philosopher noted: "Us is flux."

[Simple Minded]

Good thread (once one ignores the usual right vs left hyperbole). Between zeitgeist & technology, the stars (tools & desire) are aligning that will make eugenics “socially acceptable” (once again), in the form of irrestiable incentives to cull those who can not pick as many potatoes from society. Ironically, as always, it will be the advocates of “the common good” who will most enthusiastically support the culling of the undesirables from society.

Tying in to another current topic: If the minimum wage is raised from say $8/hour to $15/hour, the employee who is of $8/hour caliber will be blown out of the labor force by the person of $15/hour caliber applying for the job in which the person of $8/hr caliber was formerly secure. Add to that the incentives for employers to automate or eliminate the jobs that were formerly economically viable when labor was available at $8/hour…... and voila’ new problems are created, and incentives to use the “new tools” will increase.

The incentive for retirees (who can do the math of making change in their heads) to come out out of retirement also increases. None of this is good for the peson of $8/hr caliber. Who is at fault? Evil capitalists.....? Parents...? AHA!!!

When you add government controlled health services (the cost of everyone’s life is everyone else’s responsibility, so the perverse incentives to meddle or fix (no pun intended) the lives of others increase), responsible stewardship of limited resources, genetic mapping, and the compassionate battle cry of the ideologues to “Lets just do something…. anything for the common good!”….. the notion that it is compassionate to prevent people of sub $15/hour caliber from breeding will soon become socially acceptable….. all in the name of “alleviating their suffering” or “for the common good.”

This thread reminds me of an article I read 20 or 30 years ago in which an academic made the very convincing case that one of the most important influences in the reduction of crime over previous decades was the legalization of abortion. Made sense to me, give those most likely to resent becoming parents an out, and society will suffer the social burden of unwanted children becoming dysfunctional adults to a lesser extent.

People.... somebody oughta do something....

[Typhoon]

A crude form of eugenics is already done in parts of Asia [and elsewhere?]: determining the gender of a fetus as soon as possible and aborting if it is a girl.

In some nations, this has resulted in a significant excess of males over females with the potential problems this entails.

[Doc]

A crude form of eugenics is already done in parts of Asia [and elsewhere?]: determining the gender of a fetus as soon as possible and aborting if it is a girl.

In some nations, this has resulted in a significant excess of males over females with the potential problems this entails.

I was thinking the same thing when I was posting "Is Eugenics Ever Okay?" China's one child policy was only for the poor and un politically connected. I knew a women that was a third child of CCP privileged parents.

[Mr. Perfect]

People say a lot of things which may or may not be correct.

True enough.

As fanciful a wish as a worker's paradise on earth.

[Typhoon]

A crude form of eugenics is already done in parts of Asia [and elsewhere?]: determining the gender of a fetus as soon as possible and aborting if it is a girl.

In some nations, this has resulted in a significant excess of males over females with the potential problems this entails.

I was thinking the same thing when I was posting "Is Eugenics Ever Okay?" China's one child policy was only for the poor and un politically connected. I knew a women that was a third child of CCP privileged parents.

All Chinese are equal, but members of the CCP are more equal than others.