Is Discrimination Always Wrong?

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In response to Gutter Ball Master’s post, “Dr. Paul May Do Harm“, I offer the following article as rebuttal. I do not claim to be in total agreement with it, but I present it as an opposing viewpoint.

I Favor Discrimination

“If ever anyone wants to discredit me, he can cite the title of this article. I am giving it away on a silver platter in order to make one point: Freedom includes the freedom to discriminate. Discrimination is nothing more than making distinctions and being selective. Without discrimination, freedom to choose is an empty exercise. I favor the freedom to choose. Therefore, I favor discrimination. Not only do I favor discrimination, I discriminate constantly. And so does everyone else.”

It should be noted that the good doctor rejected the law on privacy, federal ineptitude, states rights, and constitutional authority grounds. Here’s his defense in his own words, emphasis mine (Fedora Tip to Chronicles of Dissent).

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Dr. Paul May Do Harm

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On 21 May 2008, “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008” became law. Essentially, the act prohibits health insurance companies from denying coverage to someone with negative genetic makeup. This law is good legislation since it guarantees that everyone has the opportunity to enroll in or buy into health insurance to help improve or save peoples’ lives no matter what their genes may predispose them to.

If the legislation did not pass, many people with genetic issues would have to live without health insurance or live on the emergency room system (the general public). In addition, parents with children with negative genetic makeup would be forced to drop their children off their insurance. Some parents would probably even be forced to abort their children so they (the parents) could have insurance. (So much for safe and rare.)

97% of the US House voted for the Act. Ron Paul, a doctor, was part of the 3% who voted against it. Why would a doctor vote against it? Yes, with this Act the government is interfering in private industry, but with life and death issues, the government must intervene.

FD has suggested to me that the Act may be seen as another affirmative action law. I disagree in part. Yes, it says that the disadvantaged gets special treatment; in affirmative action law, minorities get to get into college. However, with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the disadvantaged get to live. Insurance companies should not dictate that part of society at large must die to win a heavy bottom line (with blood).

What do you think of the Act? Why do you think Dr. Paul voted against it? (I thought he was OTAAC, or pro-life.)

Libertarians at Sea?

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A bunch of geeks are apparently trying to upstage the Free State Project.

Silicon Valley Nerds Plan Sea-Based Utopian Country to Call Their Own

“A group of super-rich Silicon Valley nerds are sick of the man keeping them down. That’s why they’re planning to create their own sea-based country made up of floating structures that will be similar to oil rigs, but with houses and offices rather than, you know, oil rig stuff on board. And this isn’t some conceptual plan; they’re looking to have their first prototype in the San Francisco Bay within two years.”

Suing OPEC

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House passes bill to sue OPEC over oil prices

“The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure.”

[…]

“‘This bill guarantees that oil prices will reflect supply and demand economic rules, instead of wildly speculative and perhaps illegal activities,’ said Democratic Rep. Steve Kagen of Wisconsin, who sponsored the legislation.”

My guess is that OPEC is charging fair market values. The price of oil is skyrocketing because the US dollar is dying. Compared to the price of gold, oil has stayed level. There hasn’t been any real increase in demand. Until there is, I wouldn’t expand OPEC to increase production. After all, what would they get in return? Certainly not increased profit. In fact, they might lose money in the deal.

Why You Give Me TMJ: WTF?! Wednesday Edition

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“Okay, do you understand?”

“….. Yes?…. Yes. I understand now.”

“Are you sure you understand?  You don’t have any questions?”

“I understand.  No, no questions.”

“Okay, because the last seven times I’ve shown you how to do this you’ve said the same thing…”

“No… I understand this time.  I think I just forgot last time.  Too much on my mind.”

“But you won’t forget this time, right?”

“Oh, I’ll remember.  I took notes this time.”

“Okay, great!”

~*two days later*~

“I don’t understand this….”

“But…….I just showed you how to do this two days ago….!”

“….. oh…. Really?!  I don’t remember seeing this before….”

“You don’t remember seeing…. I showed you eight times! Eight! We talked about this two days ago… I said, ‘Do you understand?” and you said “Yes!””

“Oh… this is the same thing? You showed me how to do ~this~?”

“…. Yeah…. You took notes remember?”

“Oh, I remember now!  Yeah, those weren’t notes for this… I was making a grocery list.  Now why is this wrong again?”

And this is why I sometimes think I should hand out applications before interacting with people.  If the above conversation seems perfectly normal to you… I think you’re reading the wrong blog.  If that conversation caused your jaw muscles to clench too (even if just for a second, instinctively), then call me.  We need to take over the world.

“Do you want to form an alliance with me?”