Last week’s question concerned the story about several obese people who claim their obesity should be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We asked if obesity should be considered a disability. Eighty-nine percent of you said no, while eleven percent said yes. Here’s more of what you had to say:
“Excess fat is a choice. No benefit or protection should accrue to people who choose poorly — in particular, those who do so often. My weight is directly related to my eating and exercise habits, so no one should pay except me and my family.”- M. Humphreys
“The definition of disability should be limited to factors beyond the control of the individual, such as birth defects, injury, or disease. Defining as a disability the failure of a person to adequately balance their caloric intake with physical activity continues the negative trend of people not taking responsibility for their own actions.”- J. Meadows
“Alcoholism, cocaine, or other addictions are treated in some cases as a disability. This is a fundamental error when applied to all cases. Likewise, obesity treated as a disability should be considered, with some qualifications and exceptions, the same as any other freely chosen condition. What is the difference between a “disease,” genetically caused or otherwise, and deliberate misbehavior when it involves the exercise of a person’s God-given right of free will? Where has the sense of personal accountability gone?”- D. Cortez
This week’s question concerns comments made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair that technology has turned news media into a “feral beast” that cares more about getting attention than telling the truth. He said that new technology has changed the way journalists operate, and that pressure generated by the Internet for constantly updated news makes the media “dangerous.” Has the challenge of keeping up with the “right-now” access to news on the Internet caused journalists to resort to dangerous tactics? Has technology caused the media to become dangerous?
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