On 30-12-2009 11:08, Darren New wrote:
> andrel wrote:
>> Well, you never know with Americans. Some seem to religiously believe 
>> that everybody has at birth the same possibilities*.
> 
> No, it's more like everyone should get the same opportunities.

I don't have a problem with 'should'. I do have problems with people 
implying that it is already the current state.

> But if 
> you're unable to take advantage of the opportunity, you don't get to 
> leech off someone else.

As a socialist ;) I should reply that quite a lot of people are unable 
to take advantage, simple because in practice they don't get the 
opportunity. It is economically sound to kill everybody with a 
disability and with an IQ of less than 80, but you can also take your 
responsibility as a society to act as an extended family and take care 
of them. You might call that leeching, I don't. In most cases it is not 
that extreme, but we feel that it is sensible to prevent people to sink 
down deep in poverty, because if they do, they and their children (ad 
infinitum?) will never contribute to society again. Besides, the one who 
is accused of leeching may be you in ten years time, struggling to feed 
your family.

> Everyone should be allowed to buy a house. That doesn't mean we take 
> houses from people who own two and give them to people who are too poor 
> to buy their own, you see.

I am not aware that anybody suggested that.

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