1. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175347 by crafty on May 5, 2008 at 9:36 am

To Steve8282- Good point, i'm sure he's closer to needing one each time he confronts the death-cult of Islam. If it comes down to it, I'd gladly contribute to a Sam Harris protection fund if he keeps on writing important essays like the one above.

Great article, thanks Sam

2. AAI 07

Comment #82983 by crafty on October 28, 2007 at 12:31 pm

USA_Limey

A society in which the government provides decent support to everyone, is a society where people will have the opportunity to "pursue happiness" without seeking comfort in the arms of religion

my addition would be:

...without seeking comfort in the arms of religion, but instead seeking comfort in the arms of government

fair point, but there's a difference between
1)government that provides too much support, so there would be no incentive to work, for example
and
2)a government that provides enough support so that people who are disadvantaged, through no fault of their own, (Eg. through illness, homelessness (due to circumstances outside of their control), redundancy, people born poor, etc) have the chance to become a productive member of society again.

i live in the UK,

if i were to get ill tomorrow i would not be faced with crippling health care costs. i know in the US you have the option for health insurance but there are many many people for who this isn't a real option- the people who genuinely can't afford it or are not eligible for it.

if i lost my job, i would be eligible for jobseekers allowance, a small amount of money (only eligible to people actually looking for work) but enough so i can feed myself until i find work.

not everyone can get a job where they can lead a comfortable lifestyle, free from financial worries no matter what situation crops up. this level of support from the government means i don't have to worry too much if something bad happens to me. it is NOT though, enough to be an attractive lifestyle choice for the overwhelming majority of people who find themselves in these situations. it just helps, thats all it does

3. AAI 07

Comment #82788 by crafty on October 27, 2007 at 3:05 pm

Nor do the homeless who have healthy limbs but cannot bother to work.

yeah, it's really easy getting a job when you're homeless.....

4. AAI 07

Comment #82769 by crafty on October 27, 2007 at 2:05 pm

scooternyc-
you're being incredibly disingenuous... do you honestly believe that the poorest, most vulnerable people in society have a choice each month between an buying an ipod or getting health insurance??

can you not appreciate that many many people have the unenviable choice of choosing between paying the rent and buying groceries?

A society in which the government provides decent support to everyone, is a society where people will have the opportunity to "pursue happiness" without seeking comfort in the arms of religion.

5. AAI 07

Comment #82711 by crafty on October 27, 2007 at 9:52 am

Any time you think you're entitled to something other than life, liberty and a PURSUIT of happiness - you're headed down a road of wanting others to pay for your bad decisions in life.

so, how is someone who made the 'bad decision in life' to get sick, for example, able to pursue happiness when saddled with crippling health care costs? I'm glad I live in the UK where, fortunatley, the government does provide decent support for people.

BUT NOT AT A COST TO ANYONE ELSE.

Pay your own damned way.

If you can't afford it - you can't have it.

it's a fact of life some people are born poor....do they not deserve the chance to enjoy life in the same way as people who, by accident of birth, are in richer social classes?