|
How far should we be responsible for other people's rights?
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Yohan |
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/1...stitution-laws/
This is not a rant against prostitution, but implication of recent Insite ruling.
| quote: | | The court said closing the Insite clinic violated addicts’ basic rights to life and security, given evidence that the clinic reduced the risks from drug addiction. |
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...g-advancer.html
| quote: | | In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that not allowing the clinic to operate under an exemption from drug laws would be a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. |
http://supervisedinjection.vch.ca/
| quote: | | Insite is North America’s first legal supervised injection site. The BC Ministry of Health Services provides operational funding for Insite through Vancouver Coastal Health, which operates the facility in conjunction with PHS Community Services Society. |
So apparently tax payers have a duty to fund clinics so that drug users can inject drugs safely into themselves. (druggies must provide own drugs)
Am I the only one think this is nuts? |
|
|
| Endlesswave |
| It is pretty nuts. I'd be happier with a system that slowly helps them get off the stuff and stay off it rather than just slowly lets them do their thing and get screwed up. |
|
|
| CMR |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yohan
So apparently tax payers have a duty to fund clinics so that drug users can inject drugs safely into themselves. (druggies must provide own drugs)
Am I the only one think this is nuts? |
Remember that these types of things benefit more than just those who make use of them. Addicts shooting up in a safe environment with clean needles = less used, dirty needles lying around in public and it slows the spread of AIDs, Hepatitis, and other diseases transfered through sharing needles (that can then be spread to more people through other channels).
The alternative is using those tax dollars to increase law enforcement, which would most likely just make things worse (see: the influx "krokodil" in Russia after the government cracked down on Heroin use/trade). |
|
|
| Endlesswave |
| quote: | Originally posted by CMR
Remember that these types of things benefit more than just those who make use of them. Addicts shooting up in a safe environment with clean needles = less used, dirty needles lying around in public and it slows the spread of AIDs, Hepatitis, and other diseases transfered through sharing needles (that can then be spread to more people through other channels).
The alternative is using those tax dollars to increase law enforcement, which would most likely just make things worse (see: the influx "krokodil" in Russia after the government cracked down on Heroin use/trade). |
Ah, didn't think of it that way. |
|
|
| The Highroller |
| The more important consideration here is that the medical community in Canada came together to say that the benefit of safe injection sites outweigh the cost. As a matter or fact, I remember reading that one of the physicians testifying in this case said that the medical community has concluded that safe-injections sites have no discernible cost to society. |
|
|
| Yohan |
| quote: | Originally posted by The Highroller
The more important consideration here is that the medical community in Canada came together to say that the benefit of safe injection sites outweigh the cost. As a matter or fact, I remember reading that one of the physicians testifying in this case said that the medical community has concluded that safe-injections sites have no discernible cost to society. |
I don't dispute this.
The question is how much am I responsible for poor choices that other people made in their life. (I have no problems if private charities fund these clinics)
I believe that as adults, you are responsible for your choices, the risks and the consequences that comes with your choices, even at cost of your life.
Yeah, I'm a heartless cruel bastard. lol (and think it's funny that somehow, not allowing these clinics to run is a violation of Charter of Rights and Freedoms) |
|
|
| Elendil |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yohan
I don't dispute this.
The question is how much am I responsible for poor choices that other people made in their life. (I have no problems if private charities fund these clinics)
I believe that as adults, you are responsible for your choices, the risks and the consequences that comes with your choices, even at cost of your life.
Yeah, I'm a heartless cruel bastard. lol (and think it's funny that somehow, not allowing these clinics to run is a violation of Charter of Rights and Freedoms) |
The thing is man, whilst these opinions are fine and dandy - hell, in theory I agree with them - they do not, in the end, align with a better functioning reality.
We live in a society of millions of people that is, unfortunately, filled with failures (in one way or another). As such, it is important to look for ways that we (assuredly) non-failure society members can invest our money to ensure that we mitigate the damage of these individuals.
Consider your (minuscule) investment in these sites a nice pair of mythical steel-toe boots. After all, wouldn't you rather have pimpin' mystical steel-shank boots vs. requiring a heavy as hell real pair for you and your kids to protect from rando-needle-ville?
The fact is, from how I can see it, we who are more fortunate have an obligation to our fellow society-members beyond our door. Sometimes that obligation will be a burden, sometimes a bliss. One day we or a loved one may be the burden of someone else. If it ever happens to me, I'll be glad to know that I'm in a society that doesn't mind spending a bit of money to think practically and honestly when assessing the circumstance of it's people. |
|
|
| jad |
| quote: | Originally posted by Elendil
The fact is, from how I can see it, we who are more fortunate have an obligation to our fellow society-members beyond our door. Sometimes that obligation will be a burden, sometimes a bliss. One day we or a loved one may be the burden of someone else. If it ever happens to me, I'll be glad to know that I'm in a society that doesn't mind spending a bit of money to think practically and honestly when assessing the circumstance of it's people. |
Well put. |
|
|
| spitty |
| quote: | Originally posted by Elendil
The fact is, from how I can see it, we who are more fortunate have an obligation to our fellow society-members beyond our door. Sometimes that obligation will be a burden, sometimes a bliss. One day we or a loved one may be the burden of someone else. If it ever happens to me, I'll be glad to know that I'm in a society that doesn't mind spending a bit of money to think practically and honestly when assessing the circumstance of it's people. |
<3 |
|
|
| Jayx1 |
| If this was private charity and not tax payer funded i wouldnt mind it. But it is true. Why should we have "an obligation" to this as taxpayers? |
|
|
| Yohan |
| quote: | Originally posted by Elendil
The thing is man, whilst these opinions are fine and dandy - hell, in theory I agree with them - they do not, in the end, align with a better functioning reality.
We live in a society of millions of people that is, unfortunately, filled with failures (in one way or another). As such, it is important to look for ways that we (assuredly) non-failure society members can invest our money to ensure that we mitigate the damage of these individuals.
Consider your (minuscule) investment in these sites a nice pair of mythical steel-toe boots. After all, wouldn't you rather have pimpin' mystical steel-shank boots vs. requiring a heavy as hell real pair for you and your kids to protect from rando-needle-ville?
The fact is, from how I can see it, we who are more fortunate have an obligation to our fellow society-members beyond our door. Sometimes that obligation will be a burden, sometimes a bliss. One day we or a loved one may be the burden of someone else. If it ever happens to me, I'll be glad to know that I'm in a society that doesn't mind spending a bit of money to think practically and honestly when assessing the circumstance of it's people. |
well put and I agree with your post in certain ways
however, by allowing exceptions to hard drugs laws, and claiming this to be part of Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I fear it's going to set a precedent that may do a lot of harm in the future. the way I interpret this, it's ok to be a hard druggie. heck, we, the Canadian public, will fund clinics that you can keep doing your habits. |
|
|
| cammaxwell |
You're actually missing the point here. The clinic's main goal is, while offering a safe environment for these addicts who will use regardless, is to offer guidance and counseling to those people that obviously have addiction issues.
I totally support this initiative, ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away, why not address the issue. I would rather these addicts have a proper and safe means of doing their vice in a way that doesn't spread disease or put them in a dangerous situation. At least this way we can have trained professional people who have been educated on dealing with these kinds of things talk to them.
Hell, if it only saves a hand full of people isn't it worth it? |
|
|
|
|
