For my Libertarian friends

 

Finnforest wrote:   I do.  But on the copper thing, I never said he was obligated.  I'm saying a good man and leader would have found the time to spend 20 minutes with their wives and children.  Because these people and their families give a little more to society and you and I than do the typical construction worker.  If you don't understand how, I can't explain it to you.

Henry Plainview wrote: And I'm sorry, but I don't see the average police officer as a better person than the average construction worker.

Completely agree. Police Officers willingly take on their job with its inherent risks and receive compensation for that. A construction worker is no different. Any other job is really no different.


Edited by Equality 7-2521 - July 30 2010 at 09:21

Not a better person, Henry.  But people who risk their lives (cops, firemen, military) in their work are giving a special service to the community, for which some of us believe they deserve extra respect.  Leaders used to recognize those kinds of things.  Now they don't, nor do many in the public sadly.  I see it as sad.  You guys don't give a sh*t about it.  I get it.  Carry on. 

Equality 7-2521 wrote: I respect people because of who they are, not what job they have.

They're police officers and soldiers.  That's who they are. 

I have a lot of respect for people who take up jobs where someone is often trying to kill you for just doing your job.

^ Intent.

Slartibartfast wrote: What about a job where you get killed because of the company's cheapness, say coal mining or oil rigging?  We're not talking about accidents here.

That would come under Criminal Negligence.

Slartibartfast wrote: What about a job where you get killed because of the company's cheapness, say coal mining or oil rigging?  We're not talking about accidents here.

What does that have to do with anything?

Equality 7-2521 wrote: Dean wrote: ^ Intent. But why does that make the victim anymore noble?

I think it's eminently obvious that taking up a risky line of work to serve society is a noble thing to do. But of course, not very many police officers have this intent I imagine when joining the force. Which is why not all military people should be congratulated when you just know some of them really wanted to shoot stuff, not serve the country. Let alone the tenuous relationship of "serving" the country fighting people in caves across the world. But a police man in your own neighborhood? it's a little clearer sometimes.

A construction worker who builds an office building isn't providing an inherently dangerous public service.

If there were no one to build that office building, it just wouldn't get built.

If there were no one to fend off the hordes who would visit evil upon us, then it would be me, my wife, and my children doing it.  And I'm so very grateful that we don't have to do it.

That's why serving in the military is an honorable position, and that's why I regard them in the highest.