Balancing the benefits. It’s something I have given some thought too. That really began when I started listening to all the possible side effects the latest and greatest drug may have. I did read where the law says they have to report those side effects, even if it only happened to one person. I wasn’t really aware of it when I was growing up, but I was learning about risk and reward. Is the risk worth the reward? It all depends upon that reward doesn’t it? Strange thing about reward is, the value changes, more often it loses its’ value than increases.

I’m reminded of that quite often these days as I hear about all the anomalies and possibilities present in every situation today. These remote possibilities are being used to promote an agenda. Consider the whole discussion surrounding gender. You will hear about those “exceptions” to the rule. The medical/scientific reasoning citing those anomalies that do occur to establish those same anomalies as the normal. But, they are not the normal thing. Consider when abortion is discussed, won’t be long before incest and rape is mentioned as the cause of the pregnancy. The incidence of getting abortions as the result of that is quite low, less than 3%. Abortions, for other than medical reasons, occur 80% of the time. That is being justified by what? I don’t want to have a baby.

There is nothing in this world 100% except, you will die. That is going to happen sooner or later, there is no escaping that. Life itself is a balancing act when you really think about it. There is risk and reward. For those that believe the reward comes after the life. Thing there is, you can’t get the reward without living the life, that’s the price you have to pay. Well, that depends upon the religious teachings and beliefs doesn’t it? Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, modern interpretations of that. In the United States there are about 49,000 suicides every year. Compare that to 1.1 million abortions. Both result in death. Suicide however needs to be prevented and abortion promoted, as a choice. Why? Is it the benefit, the reward?

The benefit is always relative to ourselves. That’s the bottom line in all of this. Getting the majority to agree with that is sometimes quite difficult. That depends upon what it is going to cost the others. The cost isn’t always monetary either. That’s where we enter the realm of the mental aspects of living. Our mental health, which has become a very hot topic at this time.

Why has that happened? In my opinion it is solely due to a lack of moral standards. What is demanded of you, as a moral person, and your response to that responsibility. When contradictions arise, you are uncomfortable with that. You can either choose to improve yourself or demand that others choose to conform to your moral code. Do not confuse morality with religion. They really are separate things. Atheists can certainly be moral people. The belief in any god like figure is not a requirement.

Governments and churches establish moral codes. In some countries the two are inextricably linked and in others they are not. In the United States it was plainly stated in the first amendment to the constitution. Why was it an amendment and not included in the original document? Well, what was the inspiration for the revolution, for that declaration of independence? It was our God given right, by the laws of nature and man that we should do so.

You really couldn’t say we won’t acknowledge a higher power when presenting that argument, could you? No, but later it needed to be made clear, no religious doctrine would take precedence over another in this nation. The governments decisions are not based on religious doctrine, but on the moral standards of the people in general. There is a side effect to that however, Governmental morality may be in opposition to religious morality. There is always the risk of revolt! Nothing inspires revolt more than an attack on a persons moral fiber.

It is something that occurs with each generation, this attack on moral fibers. It’s what your parents complained about, what my parents complained about. and all the parents before them complained about. It has caused the collapse of empires. Has any nation ever fought a war that didn’t hinge upon that? Every fight has always been based on that. Every soldier believes God is on their side, even when they don’t believe in God. It is a responsibility to yourself. Will you respond for the common good, or for the personal benefit?