Washington is where bovine proctologists go when they just can't get enough bullcrap...

Was Robin Hood ethical?

In light of all the debate surrounding the Obama agenda, I've compiled a few (actually short) thoughts about the ethics of Robin Hood, and of Obamanomics.

Thoughts:
- Robin Hood had intent - and it was good! He wanted to help the poor.
- Robin Hood used illegal (and unethical) means to acheive his goals.
- The ends (in the story) were that Robin Hood actually did help the poor.

Given the situation, was Robin Hood ethical?
- His intent was good.
- The ends were positive.
- The means to those ends were not.

Therefore, Robin Hood's actions would be considered unethical because they are, despite intent and result, inherently wrong. When the actions taken to acheive an end are ill-conceived or somehow immoral, the actions would be unethical. Forcibly taking (forcible theft) is wrong, therefore the actions are unethical because the ends do not justify the means.

Relating this to government, Robin Hood techniques (such as redistributionism in the tax code) are inherently unethical. When a government compels people to pay for services from which they will not benefit, they are forcibly taking (stealing). There is a penalty for non-compliance (financial penalties and even imprisonment), thereby taking away the ability to object in practice. While the theoretical ends (though not the actual ends, as proven time and again) are positive, as are the intentions, this makes this type of government action inherently unethical.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for... President Obama?

It's a good thing I don't have kids, because I'd have to take a day off from work to keep them home this day. He hasn't released the text or proposed content of his speech, but he has released this and this. I don't see anything in there that looks like he's going to be pushing politics, but if I had to guess, there'll be something thrown in there. I'll be interested to see if all of the questions about how he is going to "inspire" and ask for action are going to be related to education. I'm going to try to watch, but I don't imagine I'll be terribly successful. Hopefully the speech will be archived, because I'll be very interested to see if the hype is justified on this one.




On a side note, I have a total hetero man-crush on Kevin Godlington. Who would have thought... a Brit?

EDIT: Interesting note here. So, if you follow the links to the curriculum suggestions, you won't see what was initially there. I think it's amazing that President Obama has spent more time backpedaling statements and releases that sound just a little creepy than he has actually accomplishing anything of substance. Just sayin'.