Comments on: On the Erosion of Personal Responsibility

By: walkabout

walkabout — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:32:38 +0000

At least half of Brownell's examples work against him. I'm not a libertarian either, but I think (along with many vegans) that we really should have the right to opt-out of vaccinations, to drink water untainted by flouride, and to use our brains as we see fit, and that government regulation of these areas is a misuse of power.

What might help are economic incentives for vegan diets and veganic farming. Say, health insurance cuts for the former and government subsidization of the latter.

By: philip

philip — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:21:07 +0000

Mary,

Information? Regulation?
Humans do need both. Yet history shows that human beliefs without evidence will triumph... especially over the other animals. Consider, that nearly 80% of American humans think (believe) Jesus is coming down from the sky soon and with his magic powers is going to rid the world of all evil. Then you begin to realize we have a big problem here with the notion of clear and critical thinking. It's a huge uphill struggle! I tell ya. Have you ever been to a libertarian rally???...They are almost as insane, ludicrious and lacking of any real critical thinking as you might find at a conservative Christian get together.. think Sarah Palin rally.

It's rough out there.

By: Bea Elliott

Bea Elliott — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:40:43 +0000

Yes Mary... I too would appreciate it if you shared your coping mechanisms.

By: Abby

Abby — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:42:41 +0000

Off topic, but I was wondering if you have any advice for those of us who are highly emotionally sensitive and also interested in animal welfare issues? I get so sad when I hear about the mistreatment of animals that it really affects me, but at the same time I want to be able to create change in the world. How do you deal with this and diffuse the anger and sadness that you must feel? Can you please share your spiritual beliefs or coping mechanisms? Thanks so much.

By: Karmalily

Karmalily — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:05:37 +0000

Regulation to the extent that the government should require information to be accurate, to have nutritional information available at restaurants and delis, and to provide healthy nutritious meals in government funded institutions (schools, etc) should be necessary. However, this does not mean that people will eat healthier. We can educate people on their dietary choices, but that does not necessarily mean that those people care to eat those healthier foods. Education is important, and the more people begin to realize that what they put into their bodies is important the more care they will take.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:27:06 +0000

People often reject government intervention on the grounds that it violates freedom, choice, and liberty, which is a cost we should not pay. What they don’t take into account is how irresponsible choices violate others’ freedom to lower health insurance rates and health care costs and a clean environment, which is a cost we should not pay.

Animal products in moderate to excessive quantities are directly linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, which cause MY health insurance and health care costs to be MUCH higher than they should. I shouldn’t have to pay for other people’s idiocy and poor health.

Animal agriculture is the biggest polluter and waster of excessive natural resources. The single biggest step we could take to help slow global warming is to go vegan as a world. Our children and grandchildren should have to live in a collapsing or collapsed world ecosystem.

We desperately need more critical thinking, and we also need to abolish animal agriculture for so many reasons.