News There is research and then there is military research.

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The discussion centers on the debate over reallocating funding from the US military to NASA, with proponents arguing that military spending is excessive and could be better used to address pressing issues like cancer research. Opponents counter that military funding is crucial for national security and technological advancements that benefit civilian life. The conversation touches on historical examples where a lack of military preparedness led to dire consequences, emphasizing the need for a strong defense. Additionally, there are differing views on the effectiveness of pacifism and the moral obligation to intervene in global conflicts. Ultimately, the debate highlights the complexities of funding priorities in relation to national security and scientific advancement.
  • #31
Entropy said:
I cannot weight lives, I believe no man can.

So you think the Americans and Russians racing to kill Hitler were no better than Hitler himself? Or for a more personal example, if a man is raping my sister at knifepoint and I shoot him in the head, is that no better than shooting my sister in the head? How can you honestly make no distinction here?
 
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  • #32
I think in some civilized societies that would have been the result, loseyourname, as the dis-honor of the rape required it. But to the subject the US spends a lot on bio and chemo weapons. From some books I've read(lab-257), some of the recent outbreaks of unusual diseases could have come from a few 'accidental' breechs of containment.
 
  • #33
So you think the Americans and Russians racing to kill Hitler were no better than Hitler himself?

Its the principal of the matter. It starts with the killing of someone who tried commited genocide, then maybe its okay to kill someone who killed a few people, then maybe its okay to kill someone who killed someone else, then maybe its okay if someone is right about to kill someone, then maybe its okay to kill someone who you think might kill someone in the future, then maybe its okay to kill some who is hurting someone else? You see where I'm going? The line is not definent. Even if a reasonably good man is deciding who dies many people won't see things like him and will want to take things into their own hands. More than likely one of those people who take it into their own will be evil, and guess what? You end up right back where you started with another man trying to commit genocide.

Or for a more personal example, if a man is raping my sister at knifepoint and I shoot him in the head, is that no better than shooting my sister in the head? How can you honestly make no distinction here?

It is true that some people truly don't deserve to live. The problem with your scenario here is that no real life situation is that simple.

What if your sister was also a rapist or a murder? But of course you know your sister isn't a rapist or a murder, but is she really completely innocient? What if she only acted good around you and then stole or harrast people when you weren't around you? All people do a certain amount of sins in their lives, how can you count them all and then weight them? What if that man was really a very nice person all his life but had been stepped on and humilated all his life too, and now just had a break down and really just needs some therapy?
 
  • #34
Its the principal of the matter. It starts with the killing of someone who tried commited genocide, then maybe its okay to kill someone who killed a few people, then maybe its okay to kill someone who killed someone else, then maybe its okay if someone is right about to kill someone, then maybe its okay to kill someone who you think might kill someone in the future, then maybe its okay to kill some who is hurting someone else? You see where I'm going?

Yeah, the deep end.

You lock up someone for killing. You then lock up someone for committing robbery. You then lock up somone for jaywalking. You then lock up someone for looking at you funny. So locking up people is bad.

What the **** kind of logic is that?
 

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