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From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Poor People/Lazy People
Message-ID: <580@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Oct-86 03:52:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: randvax.580
Posted: Fri Oct 10 03:52:19 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Oct-86 07:27:40 EDT
References: <1010@cad.cs.cmu.edu> <1050001@hpspkla.HP.COM> <1079@kontron.UUCP> <2000@ihlpa.UUCP> <195@gouldsd.UUCP>
Reply-To: edhall@rand-unix.UUCP (Ed Hall)
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Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 45

In article <195@gouldsd.UUCP> mjranum@gouldsd.UUCP (Marcus the Ranum) writes:
>	in short, either you assume that you owe nobody anything, but can
>occasionally opt to help out, or you MUST assume the burden of all humanity
>as brothers. I think the first option in this case is the more sensible
>one.

I read the rest of Marcus' posting carefully, and could find nothing that
forced the issue into this either/or framework.  It may not be possible
to justify any particular ``percentage'' of responsibility (whatever
that would mean), but I think we all have dual responsibilities: to
our selves, and to our society.  Those who put either responsibility
above the other have missed the boat, in my opinion.  Those who claim
that their sole responsibility is to themselves have a cynically damaged
concept of reality.

You're going to die someday, Marcus, as will I, as will everyone else
reading this.  What will outlive you is your influence on society, on
``all humanity as brothers.'' In innumerable subtle ways, each of us
will leave a trace.  How you live your life is important--to yourself,
for each of us is important, and to the society you are a part of,
*for each of us is important*.  Whether you like the idea or not, much
of what you are is what society has given you: your language, your
knowledge, the institutions you're born in, live in, work in and die
in.  Individually you only create a fraction of that which is your life.
At least I hope so--you don't seem the hermit type.

You've talked of economic freeloaders.  How about the social freeloaders
who give nothing back to the society that has supplied them with so much?

>	None of this is dogma. I just hope to provide some fuel for thought.
>Morality is a terrible responsibility, and I have never met anyone who has
>had the strength to do anything other than TALK about it.

You must live in awfully small circles!  Most people I know have a personal
morality, and tend to stick to it, too.

>Live Free

Certainly!  But the question is, live free to what end?

>mjr

		-Ed Hall
		allegra!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall
		edhall@rand-unix.ARPA