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Helping strangers
in Philosophy
I find this hard to understand. Normally, people say it is essy to help one's family or friend, or someone you know. But helping random strangers is the real test of compassion, since even a bad person could help his own son or daughter. But in my case, I find it imposible to care for the ppl I know while finding it very easy to help strangers.
What do I make of this?
What do I make of this?
0
Comments
It's pretty common even with daily life, for people to treat strangers better than their family. How many times do you see parents dragging their kids down the street, yet they open the doors for strangers and mind their manners around them? It's easier to do because we don't have that connection with them that sometimes makes our lives difficult.
Well, given that you're in your 70's and as you tell me, 'a little bit senile', soon, you'll need the help of those close to you, so opening up and being a bit more compassionate will help you, by seeming more deserving of that help, when the time comes that you will be helpless. Particularly as you are a virtual recluse, and have funds to support yourself.... that will come in handy when you need MediCare....
No?
Hell, there are those who think being altruistic is "enabling laziness" and "gives the poor no motivation to better themselves".
...WHAT!?!
Which is why I'm considering moving to Europe or Canada after I get my Masters degree. I'm thinking Montreal or somewhere in the U.K. The future of the U.S. is not a bright one.
I don't agree with the system, at all. But part of the problem is that the money that many of the new developments, new treatments, new machines and such are invented here, and someone has to pay for all that development and testing process, which takes years and years. Also, the maximum amount of time you have to wait is usually a couple months and that's only specialists (in most areas) and you can, as long as you have decent insurance, see whoever you want that your insurance will cover. Because we have widely accepted insurance, I can make an appointment in another city to see whoever I want, and it's covered. If I want to see my doctor on Tuesday, chances are, I can.
My friend who lives in Guelph, Ontario has a back problem (disease, can't remember what it is called) and she is on a 7 month waiting list for the physical therapist she needs to see. When she had an MRI it took a month to get the results, on top of waiting 3 months to get the MRI. That doesn't happen here. Not defending the system, just saying sometimes it has it's benefits, as long as you have insurance. We are lucky. Too many people are not, and it's very sad what they go through not having insurance.
The part that gets me, is that insurance companies pay LESS for medical care than a person with no insurance. My insurance pays about 50% of what is due, and that is considered paid in full, whereas someone without insurance will have to pay 100%. Backwards.
Having health care, what amounts to the life of people, be a for-profit business really really sucks. Companies that invest in the health of others shouldn't have shareholders that make decisions for them. Following the entire system is pretty amazing (in a bad way) and shows very well how little too many Americans value anyone's lives but their own. But, there are those of us who do care, who want changes made. Remember a lot of Americans live in debt, in more debt than many of them can pay off within any reasonable timeframe. They don't want to give up their vacation homes, their 5 car garage (and the 5 cars) or anything else to help someone else by paying a high tax rate to support socialized medicine. Rich people pay far less of a % of their income than middle class Americans pay, and they certainly aren't going to vote for anything that requires them to pay MORE.
This is a very relevant topic for me because I am in school right now becoming a PSW and it will be my job to help people I don't know personally.
As easy as it is to say "don't complain and do something about it", we need to keep in mind that revolution means nothing this day and age. Need we forget the Occupy Wall Street "movement"?
I'm kidding, I completely forgot about it until just now.
Psshh, not me, I couldn't get out of here anytime soon if I tried my hardest... I see you as a very wise guy and agree with just about everything you say, I am sure this was just a bad choice of words... I would love to get out of here and move to the U.K. or Canada, but frankly, I am just not able to and don't have the means to do so... And this is not because I want to be re located for the hell of it or a change in scenery, but because I can't even get health insurance in my country of birth because of a pre-existing condition and so I pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars a month for medicine that I literally have to have or else I die... I sir, do not choose where I live brother...
I've been around a long time. I wouldn't dare disrespect members on here, even ones I've known for a long time. It's about Right/Wrong Speech, and being Mindful.
That's all.