Which is better? If it will save one life, or it's for the greater good.
I wrote the following over a month ago, but just decided to post it. --- Which is better: “If it saves just one life” or “It’s for the greater good”? Both statements are used by politicians at all levels to promote or advance some restriction, regulation, or piece of legislation. The talking points are usually those which just about everyone agrees on. The focus or emphasis is on the good that can be accomplished. There is a problem, though, when someone objects. That person is instantly labeled by the supporters as being against whatever “good” is being promoted. Most of the time objectors are not against the good than can come, but they are against the details behind the “good” parts, the “talking points” pushed by politicians and the media. Often the everyday supporters don’t know the specifics and they trust the politicians to be doing what is good for everyone. Take, for example, social distancing and stay-at-home orders that extend for unreasonable or unspeci...