taking charge

[the_grynne]

Extract from 'The "Big Three" of Morality,' in Why Do Men Barbeque? Recipes for Cultural Psychology, by Richard A. Shweder (2003):

------------------Currently in the United States there is a mixed and perhaps changing discourse on suffering and fault. In many scientific circles, the most widespread discourse depersonalizes as many kinds of

Comments

[the_grynne]

That someone's worldly misery automatically reflects upon his character is one of the vilest attitudes out there, to me, because it speaks of both ignorance and arrogance, which, in combination, drive me up the wall.

And yet they're such a sue-happy nation. Such a barrage of extremes.

wow, do I have issues or what?

:) Aw, but your social conscience is why you're so lovely.

[altesse]

Elizabeth Anderson mentions in 'What is the point of equality?' that governments with a simplistic approach to equality (eg disregarding the fact that people have different levels of natural abilities), are actually disrespectful towards their citizens, because 'it excludes some citizens from enjoying the social conditions of freedom on the spurious ground that it's their fault for losing them' and 'escapes this problem only at the cost of paternalism'. In that sense socialised healthcare might fall into the latter trap: "Here, we've given you the resources to be healed, so we should tell you what to do with them."--which is not unreasonable in principle, but for the fact that the 'authorities' who make the decisions for the patient are themselves fallible

[the_grynne]

It's the US's culture of civil litigation that came first to my mind - I'm in support of getting corporations to take far more responsibility for the flow-on effects of their products, but (taking into considerations psychological effects, addiction, etc) there seem to me to be so many instances where the victimization is completely disproportionate to reality, and yet encouraged by insurance companies and compensation lawyers.