My computer is set to a Yahoo homepage, but I hope I’m not one of Swift’s Yahoos.

There is a daily question to respond to. It is frequently badly worded and usually only allows a couple of responses.

Today’s question is

Should voluntary euthanasia be legalised?

Last year John Howard said on more than one occasion that he trusts the judgment of the Australian people.  I wonder if he is still saying that? I think he was at least wrong on this one, because I think the 81% who voted in favour of euthanasia have not thought it through properly.

Mr Howard and a majority of our current parliamentarians have, I’m led to believe.

John Howard did not trust the opinions of the Australian people, nor did he care about it.

He tightened FOI laws so that it was almost impossible to get anything under those laws.

He was and is a liar.

David Ashton - 02 May 2008 05:52 PM

...He tightened FOI laws so that it was almost impossible to get anything under those laws.

He was and is a liar.

( Still singing that same old anti-Howard song ? ) How about a bit of balance - and let’s look at how our state governments ( all Labor as you know ) are doing the same - if not worse. In NSW, it’s almost a closed door. And in WA, the government has sent the Fraud Squad into a major newspaper to try and find out who leaked the truth about government policy. And we dare not mention Queensland’s “shredder affair” shall we.

As it’s so bad - what will the new Rudd government be doing about it ? Apart from calling for a lengthy enquiry about the issue ? What exactly should be done ?

Kevin Goddard - 02 May 2008 09:08 PM

David Ashton - 02 May 2008 05:52 PM

...He tightened FOI laws so that it was almost impossible to get anything under those laws.

He was and is a liar.

( Still singing that same old anti-Howard song ? ) How about a bit of balance - and let’s look at how our state governments ( all Labor as you know ) are doing the same - if not worse. In NSW, it’s almost a closed door. And in WA, the government has sent the Fraud Squad into a major newspaper to try and find out who leaked the truth about government policy. And we dare not mention Queensland’s “shredder affair” shall we.

As it’s so bad - what will the new Rudd government be doing about it ? Apart from calling for a lengthy enquiry about the issue ? What exactly should be done ?

If I am “still singing the old anti-Howard song” I am because it remains relevant. I will continue to sing the song about any politician who behaves in the same way, as opposed to many christians who seem to think JH was wonderful and everything Labor evil.

I agree that the Iemma government has the stink of corruption.

People should understand that voluntary euthanasia is already legal so long as individuals self-euthanise. 

If the majority of Australians really want to make it legal for one human being to kill another in a situation where the latter human being sincerely wishes to be dead then I hope that it is made mandatory that no human being who is not already known to be a sociopathic serial killer can be requested to kill another human being and that no human being who has the capacity to kill him or herself can request anyone, not even a sociopathic serial killer, to kill them.  Let those who want to die take responsibility for their desire to take the life that doesn’t belong to them.  If they can’t do the job themselves, perhaps due to some sort of physical infirmity, then at least don’t make it possible for them to importune someone else to do the murder just because the someone else is a doctor.  No!  Get someone to do the killing whose conscience about killing other human beings is already seared, has remained seared and who will probably enjoy the experience. 

I guess not too many euthanasia advocates are thrilled about the idea of being killed by an Ivan Milat, a Ted Bundy or a Harold Shipton.  They want the soft lights, the smooth pillow, the weeping friends, the caring doctor, the whole poor-me romance.  They want the perpetrator grieving respectfully.  They don’t want him or her getting a weirdo thrill from seeing the light die from their eyes and hearing their last breath.  They want their caring family doctor to kill them with the proper show of sorrow and regret.  Too bad they don’t care about the harm they are likely to do to in getting, or trying to get, what they want from a really caring family doctor.

Euthanasia advocates disgust me to the marrow of my bones.

And John Howard is, to my mind, the best Prime Minister we’ve had since Menzies retired.  David A., I would remind you about judging not lest you be judged.

Janice Money - 02 May 2008 10:39 PM

People should understand that voluntary euthanasia is already legal so long as individuals self-euthanise. 

And John Howard is, to my mind, the best Prime Minister we’ve had since Menzies retired.  David A., I would remind you about judging not lest you be judged.

No, he was ne of the most destructive leaders we have ever had.

And I’m not passing judgement, I simply seeing what is there.

Janice Money - 02 May 2008 10:39 PM

Euthanasia advocates disgust me to the marrow of my bones.

I don’t know about the advocates, but the concept’s pretty poor. Remember to distinguish between that and “dying with dignity” which is another thing altogether.

And John Howard is, to my mind, the best Prime Minister we’ve had since Menzies retired.  David A., I would remind you about judging not lest you be judged.

(Edited for clarity)
Hmmmm, a Prime Minister that ignores 2 “clear and present dangers” — global warming and peak oil — voted one of Australia’s best? Sorry, I live in his former electorate. A few years ago I wrote to him as a concerned member of Bennelong, and warned him that oil was on the way towards $100 a barrel which would increase inflation and interest rates. The reply was standard ABARE rubbish — which was exposed as such by 4 Corners.

So the people of Bennelong voted him out, the 2nd Prime Minister to lose his own seat!

Janice Money - 02 May 2008 10:39 PM

Euthanasia advocates disgust me to the marrow of my bones.

And John Howard is, to my mind, the best Prime Minister we’ve had since Menzies retired.  David A., I would remind you about judging not lest you be judged.

Er..Janice..you made 2 judgements here.

Are you misapplying the reference?

David A.,

Are you misapplying the reference?

No.  I don’t believe so.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

John Gill on this verse:

This is not to be understood of any sort of judgment ... but of rash judgment, interpreting men’s words and deeds to the worst sense, and censuring them in a very severe manner.... Good is the advice given by the famous Hillell, who lived a little before Christ’s time;

“Do not judge thy neighbour, (says he,) until thou comest into his place.”

It would be well, if persons subject to a censorious spirit, would put themselves in the case and circumstances the persons are in they judge; and then consider, what judgment they would choose others should pass on them. The argument Christ uses to dissuade from this evil ... is, “that ye be not judged”; meaning, either by men, for such censorious persons rarely have the good will of their fellow creatures, but are commonly repaid in the same way; or else by God, which will be the most awful and tremendous: for such persons take upon them the place of God, usurp his prerogative, as if they knew the hearts and states of men; and therefore will have judgment without mercy at the hands of God.

Matthew Henry on this verse:

We must judge ourselves, and judge our own acts, but we must not judge our brother, not magisterially assume such an authority over others, as we allow not them over us… We must not sit in the judgment-seat, to make our word a law to everybody. We must not judge our brother, that is, we must not speak evil of him, so it is explained, #Jas 4:11. We must not despise him, nor set him at nought, #Ro 14:10. We must not judge rashly, nor pass such a judgment upon our brother as has no ground, but is only the product of our own jealousy and ill nature. We must not make the worst of people, nor infer such invidious things from their words and actions as they will not bear. We must not judge uncharitably, unmercifully, nor with a spirit of revenge, and a desire to do mischief. We must not judge of a man’s state by a single act, nor of what he is in himself by what he is to us, because in our own cause we are apt to be partial. We must not judge the hearts of others, nor their intentions, for it is God’s prerogative to try the heart, and we must not step into his throne; nor must we judge of their eternal state, nor call them hypocrites, reprobates, and castaways; that is stretching beyond our line; what have we to do, thus to judge another man’s servant?

John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”