should the government be involved in the moral decision-making of its people?
145465
If what one person does does not hurt or effect another, then no, the government should not get involved. Gay marriage is a good example. The exuses I always hear against it are all religious morals. But in reality, if two gay men or two gay women get married, it will have no effect on my heterosexual marriage.\n\nAnother example is prostitution. What goes on between two consenting adults should be none of the business of the government. If a woman want to freely charge for sexual favors, and a man wants to freely pay for it, who does it hurt? Of course, if a woman if forced into prostitution by someone else, this is wrong, but if she does it of her own free-will, there is no problem.
5207
Morality and Religious Laws tend to go hand in hand, which is typical, as it deals with personal nature, instead of governmental issues.\n\nHowever, National Law, Local state Law, and civil law tend to follow the morals of religion to some extent.  This is a true crime, in my opinion, as it allows religion to dictate what the state can and can not do.\n\nTo some extent our government has harbored a christian ethos into running this country.  However, to be inclusive of other faiths, and other nationalities within our own community, the government has adopted a policy of seperating church and state.  but this ethos, that of sepration, isn't always as clean cut as one would hope.\n\nLet us hope that in the near future we will adopt a stance of removing religion from state governments and federal governments.  To finally allow the SOCIETY to control religion, and let the GOVERNMENT worry about PROTECTING the society.
165776
what in who?! ethics in action. there is no morality in government.
1084554
Only if the politicians are clear about where they stand on various topics.  For example, if you know a candidate likes the death penalty and he/she actually stands by that after they're elected, then you're responsible.  I find I vote for someone who I think represents my values, then when they get in power, they change their tune.  I don't believe I should be held accountable for the politician's change of heart.
910962
Yes, how can we be a country of the people if the people don't talk.  I might not agree with others but they should vote to make sure the people's will is being followed.  I like to think I am in the majority, but I do conceed I might not be.
24115
No. The government has no business in how its citizens choose to live their lives. All the lifestyle preferences you listed should be just that: preferences. If one person enjoys using recreational drugs, in addition to living a productive and successful life, he should be able to.
554553
It is said and I quote..."A lasting social government without a morality predicated upon spiritual realities can no more be maintained than the solar system without gravity."  \n\nA functional governement needs a moral basis for society to thrive... and thereby the government will thrive...
988441
Todays social system is running on the base of power & threat.  People remain civilised so long they have the fear of being penalised for their wrongs.  But a best and ideal society will be where people will do the right thing without the fear of any penalties.\n         Yes governance is necessary, but a good governance is what gives it's citizens trust and responsibility which they can perform voluntarily and not by compulsion.\n................the story can be an unending one.
770745
Hey There pingavar, I have a question for you. Don't you think the government has enough control over the people? Have you ever heard the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" ? We are our brothers keepers and as such we should all help one another in each of our needs regardless of the beneficial return to our selves.          \nDid you know that all of the services that the government provides are paid for by our taxes? So, what is the problem with people helping people and leaving the government out of it and letting them do the job of running the country and defending our country. It won't hurt us to use some of our time and resources to help the less fortunate.  God Bless you, and check into the actual functioning of government before you try to lay every thing at their feet.
14662
Well, in school, I have an assignment to find articles relating to this same line from Hamlet. We must not let a corrupt government lead us, as must continuously check and balance its power, such as our society does.
177349
Knowledge and guidance. The government should make the peole happy and the people in return should do their share to make the country productive and peaceful :-)
993116
In theory it is, but in practice, it doesn't work that way. The government has become self-serving. One might argue that the government looks at the bigger picture and therefore can not make decisions based on what the people want. Also, at times, the government only knows what the people with the largest influence and the biggest wallets wants.
614002
The local/city governments should be responsible for planning and the state & federal government should be there to assist on what the local government has planned.\n\nBetter planning and citizens getting involved, not waiting on the federal government should be the goal to avoid such loss of life in the future.
18932
The state should have as little involvement in our lives as possible. The only purpose of the government (or the state) is to protect our rights, not interfere with them.
690352
All depends on your ethics...\nFor me personally if i feel that the legal/civic responsibility is an obstruction to the free will of society, and represents the will of the few wrongfully imposed upon the rest of society (providing that no person is put at risk either physically or mentally), then it is in my personal interest to see that free will remains as such.......
1132350
Yes, as long as your are agreeing with the government.\n\nIt is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.\n-- Voltaire
398783
Yes the Repuglicans should change to include all of America in their plans. A move toward the middle would help. As for the independents they should pick a side. Either side. They are the real problem here. Because they usually vote for the best Rhetoric and never mind the best person for the job. I would like to know why Repuglicans have a lock on the moral issue. I am against abortion, I just feel that government has no business in either moral issues or religious issues. Every time that a government has tried to legislate morality it has failed. It just drives it under ground and people do that behavior anyway. It actually has brought down governments as with the Roman empire and even England and many others. That is why we declared our Independence from England as they were trying to legislate their morality on us.