[thechat] pure evil: Tobacco giant buys rights to lung cancer drugs

[Luther, Ron]

Naw ... that's cool.

I respect your stance 100%, pal!

I guess for me I found the article more amusing than offensive.  

<excuse>
{... besides ... I've been reading the Joan D. Vinge "Psion" trilogy
pretty heavily lately ... which kind of has an Ayn Rand-ish view of
corporate morality that seemed to dovetail in here ...}
</excuse>

[Mind you, there ARE things that offend me - (I had a chance to make BIG
$$ trading kruggerands in the early 80's, and I *knew* it was a
'guaranteed financial win' at the time too!  {This isn't a "hindsight
only" thing.}) - I passed 'cuz I just couldn't do it - and I have no
regrets.]


RonL.

-----Original Message-----
From: spinhead [mailto:evolt at spinhead.com]
Subject: Re: [thechat] pure evil: Tobacco giant buys rights to lung
cancer drugs

While I think I understand your point, Ron, it goes back to a pretty
basic
level for me - the end doesn't justify the means. I'm morally opposed to
military involvement, so I'm bemused/confused by pacifists who join the
army
becuase the government will pay for their college (this is not
hypothetical;
I know them.) I mean, hey, are you opposed until it benefits you? That's
not
morals, that's situational ethics. I don't believe "it's wrong just
'cause
you get caught," and I don't believe that someone who continues to make
money killing people should be involved in finding the cure. I don't
think
life is more important than integrity, so I don't think a cure
discovered by
the tobacco industry suits my needs. Probably simplistic; maybe
unrealistic,
but doesn't mankind as a whole revere selfless adherence to truly
worthwhile
causes over self-preservation?

Apologies for ranting in response to your mostly tongue-in-cheek
response.
I'm not doubting your moral capacity, Ron; we've chatted too much for me
to
do that ;)