carepov

Yes, all families make all kinds of choices, in career/income/working hours and how they spend it, what's your point? In the end, families that have equal income should pay an equal amount of income tax. I am in favour of a progressive tax system. The system should be based on the family (household) not the individual. The way it is now, some families earn more money yet pay less taxes than other families that earn less money - don't you think that this is unfair?

"The number of pre-school age children who suffer from clinical Vitamin A deficiency is 5.2 million" http://www.unicef.org/factoftheweek/index_54116.html

My opinion is that the current taxation system is unfair for middle class families that have a single income earner. What do you think? Perhaps the revenue loss from income-splitting should be made up by increasing the tax rate at higher income brackets (>~ $80,000)? This would address the concerns of the CD Howe Institute, no?

Sorry, I don't understand this sentence. Maybe I'm tired today... but I don't understand your question - Family A and Family B have equal means, why should either family pay less income tax?

Family A has both parents working each making $35,000 per year. Family B has one parent working making $70,000 per year. The other is at home with no income. Why should Family B be paying thousands of dollars more in income taxes each year than Family A?

Do you support the continuation of such studies and trials?

In general, if parents are powerless to prevent their children from dying, it is logical to assume that they are powerless to challenge their leaders. There is international law and the responsibility to protect (not vigilantism) but certainly military intervention is usually a bad idea. Yes we should do this - we should especially avoid trading arms with oppressive regimes. Sometimes a band-aid is what's needed to solve the problem. As I've said, when aid is done right it leads to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Perhaps, but I am quite certain that they were not disposed by peasants either.

No I am not aware of your position on Goldern Rice and that's why I was asking: "If it were up to you, would you continue to develop Golden Rice and conduct further trials or would you cancel the entire Golden Rice project?"

Some of what you say about "people are collectively responsible for the leaders" is debateable - but getting back to the OP - we are talking about 7,000,000 children dying every year - surely they are not responsible for their leaders. Tim, where do you draw your circle for society? Who are the outsiders?

There are many places where poverty has nothing to do with colonialism. Zimbabwe is certainly one. I would argue that colonialism is too far in the past to think that it is a cause of poverty today. There are examples of entire nations that were rebuilt and poverty greatly reduced in 30-50 years - even in post-collonial countries. No, let's not forget the past but, yes, let's move on.

Here is the actual IRRI position on GM rice: http://irri.org/news/hot-topics/genetically-modified-gm-rice Is there anything that you disagree with?

Increased trade and foreign investment is not the only way to reduce poverty - aid has its place too (and the two approaches are not mutually exclusive). Here are the words of the President of Rwanda: "There is bad aid and there is good aid. The bad aid is that one which creates dependencies, but good aid is that which is targeted to create capacities in people so that they are able to live on their own activities." http://www.povertycure.org/voices/president-paul-kagame/ Here is another example: "In the absence of foreign aid, there is no doubt that the degree of poverty in Papua New Guinea would be even greater than that prevailing" p. 90: http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/apdj_10_2/feeny.pdf Ghana is another good example of how effective aid can be delivered.

No, responsible and effective governements do not delay sustainable development and do not create permanent dependency. One model of effective foriegn aid is Rwanda 1994-2014. The goal is to be independent by 2020.

I disagree with the bolded parts of your post (by the way the last part contradicts the first part because we have been donating money and interfereing). Aid to responsible and effective governments and organizations will help solve problems. Disaster relief is also usually positive.

To clarify, yes seeing such death would change me. But I don't see it redically changing my actions toward aleviating poverty, certainly not like MG who would, "Personally, if I saw such a scene I would sell every non-essential thing I owned to provide the food & medicine etc. for these kids." I would still spend my $2-3 per day on my two cats while others live off less. I would still spend multiples of poor families' annual earnings on 2-week vacations and eat out at restaurants for the price of others' hard working monthly wages.

waldo, if you want we should continue here, here is my latest post to you:

Fact: Golden Rice is being developed to prevent VAD Fact: GP is getting in the way Fact: this pisses me off

To me, there is no significant difference between seeing the deaths of children live, on a screen, or imagining them. "Out of sight out of mind" does not apply for me and obviously the bliss of ignorance is not an option for anyone discussing this issue. I would not change my way of life if I actually saw all 7 million kids dying live. I don't really understand why you would. I think that most people adapt and normalize to their environment and then carry on, like doctors and other humanitarian aid workers. I do feel lucky and guilty for having a privileged life while so many suffer, however, I live with my guilt just fine. I do not think we should accept the status quo and we should all "do what we can" to help, at the very least: 1. ensure that you and your dependants do not end up as one of the dying poor 2. ensure that the actions taken by you and those you support are not worsening the problem 3. get out of the way of those that are helping and support them This is why I feel strongly about Greenpeace’s crime against humanity in blocking the development of Golden Rice (see other thread). I am also very pissed off at people that want to block free trade deals and foreign investment for under-developed countries.

This guy seems to have a reasonable position that I support. What do you think? "keeping and using most animals in zoos, circuses, research laboratories, as pets and so on are not harmful in and of themselves" "the use of some animals for certain purposes is not analogous to the institution of human slavery" p.18: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/21191/1/Do%20Animals%20Have%20an%20Interest%20in%20Liberty%20(LSERO).pdf

Thanks for the links, I agree with them and the idea that conditions at many zoos should improve. Are you saying that we should shut down all zoos? Are there any "good zoos" that should be examples for others?

AFAIK, zookeepers are aware of these issues related to captivity and try their best to prevent them. Is the abmormal behaviour and distress in zoos common or rare?

Good question, no I have never seen a whale smile. How can you tell if a whale or any animal is happy? Look, I am not presenting any evidence or trying to convince anyone of my position. I generally trust the zookeepers and zooligists but am open to changing my mind. I am trying to understand yours and others that say all zoos are bad.

I don't understand the reason for your opposition to keeping large animals in zoos, when they are treated properly. I've been to several zoos/aquariums and the animals looked happy (whales, tigers, polar bears, giraffes, apes, camels, etc...) and more importantly the zookeepers were obviously very much in love with the animals and took good care of them. I saw no reason to be opposed to these zoos/aquariums and that's why I'm asking.

Yes it can be - but if zoos are properly operated, are you against them, if so why?

So you think that modern western zoos are cruel because "animal rights people" say so? http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-authority.html