“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?

Submit your answer here.

“I think Google is pushing the envelope, but part of this is a super way for people not familiar with an area to learn more about it. I am not sure how they could edit out the people and the spying through windows — this is the scary part.” -M. Christensen

“It is a well-established custom in American law that what we do in public view is not protected, and that we are responsible for these actions. Is your back yard a private and protected location? It is not, anymore than the space in your car — sad, but true under court review for some time.” -A. Eynon

“If the street-level cameras can see these “delicate situations,” then a person walking down the street could also see the same thing, could they not? Seems to me that the people worried about this should take some responsibility and stop performing these delicate situations where they can be seen in the first place.” -Steve J.

This week’s question concerns the story about several obese people who claim their obesity should be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the law that forbids bias based on a worker’s disability. The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that “substantially limits” a major life activity. But, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says that only morbid obesity (100 pounds or more overweight) should be an impairment shielded from bias. Should obese people be protected by the ADA? Should obesity be considered a disability? Submit your answer here.