Thank GOD that "sanctity o' life" organizations didn't get an opportunity to banty around her bedside with their teams of legal and medical "experts", providing another Terri Schiavo moment that would merely force Linda to die painfully over a length of time.

This person died with dignity, something Christian organizations should respect. I mean, they do worship the "untimely" death of their God as expression of their adoration of living.

If only they would assist with sane abortion rights their comprehension might improve as to these human conditions. Somehow, I doubt that they will.

If only they would assist with sane abortion rights their comprehension might improve as to these human conditions. Somehow, I doubt that they will.

#1 | Posted by redlightrobot

Unfortunately, I wouldn't count on it...not as long as the social-religious-political hustlers still have the "sanctity of life" arguments to gin up the mob.

It's one of these things we tell ourselves so we'll feel noble. Life is sacred. Makes you feel noble. Well let me ask you this: if everything that ever lived is dead, and everything alive is gonna die, where does the sacred part come in? I'm having trouble with that. 'Cuz, I mean, even with all this stuff we preach about the sanctity of life, we don't practice it. We don't practice it. Look at what we'd kill: Mosquitos and flies. 'Cuz they're pests. Lions and tigers. 'Cuz it's fun! Chickens and pigs. 'Cuz we're hungry. Pheasants and quails. 'Cuz it's fun. And we're hungry. And people. We kill people... 'Cuz they're pests. And it's fun!

And you might have noticed something else. The sanctity of life doesn't seem to apply to cancer cells, does it? You rarely see a bumper sticker that says 'Save the tumors.'. Or 'I brake for advanced melanoma.'. No, viruses, mold, mildew, maggots, fungus, weeds, E. Coli bacteria, the crabs. Nothing sacred about those things. So at best the sanctity of life is kind of a selective thing. We get to choose which forms of life we feel are sacred, and we get to kill the rest. Pretty neat deal, huh? You know how we got it? We made the whole fucking thing up! Made it up!

maybe if they tried the MMS Protocol...

The Miracle Mineral Supplement of the 21st Century - Part I

People choose to die all the time, and are quite successful at it. It's called hospice.

The Miracle Mineral Supplement of the 21st Century - Part I

www.miraclemineral.org

#3 | POSTED BY BANI

Does Billy Mays know about this stuff?

Damnit!

It was God's will that this woman suffer through her battle with incurable cancer... God's judgment will be upon Washington!

It is a sad thing that anyone is in a position where dying is preferable to living. The ability to "bypass" the final agony of such a terminal disease is welcome if used properly and without the need for government "permission." A permission that may take years after death to get.

It was God's will that this woman suffer through her battle with incurable cancer... God's judgment will be upon Washington!

#6 | Posted by ZombieHunter at 2009-05-23 10:09 PM | Reply | Flag: bugfuck nuts

It was God's will that this woman suffer through her battle with incurable cancer... God's judgment will be upon Washington!

#6 | Posted by ZombieHunter

You are an ass.

If you knew anything about the teaching of Christianity you would know God lets us make our own decisions. Granted there are some zealots who give the rest of us a bad name in some peoples eyes but that is true of all religions.

Then there are non-believing people just living their lives quietly (like a lot of us) then there are the zealots like yourself.

The ability to "bypass" the final agony of such a terminal disease is welcome if used properly and without the need for government "permission."

My read is the 'Government Permission' is for the care giver not for the dying. To be able to remove suffering from a terminal patient without being prosecuted.

If you knew anything about the teaching of Christianity you would know God lets us make our own decisions.

So Linda chose pancreatic cancer..

So Linda chose pancreatic cancer.

#11 | Posted by Zap

You missed the point.

Thanks for playing

So Linda chose pancreatic cancer.

#11 | Posted by Zap

You missed the point.

Thanks for playing

#12 | Posted by chickenrancher at 2009-05-24 10:49 AM | Reply | Flag: Idiot.

Then there are non-believing people just living their lives quietly (like a lot of us) then there are the zealots like yourself.
~CHICKENRANCHER

Here is the difference, the non believer opinions are not sacrosanct by reason (or lack of reason) to a faith in a religious doctrine...

You missed the point.

LOL No you missed ZombieHunter's..

If you knew anything about the teaching of Christianity you would know God lets us make our own decisions. Granted there are some zealots who give the rest of us a bad name in some peoples eyes but that is true of all religions.

If God respects our right to make our own decisions and live our lives as we wish, then why are his followers dedicated to restricting that right at every turn?

You can't tell me that the politically-active Christians would approve of euthanasia. They are already up in arms about abortion, gay rights, prayer in school, evolution, and such.

All these Christian Crusaders seem to try to do is limit the freedom of everyone else... and we're not talking about enforcing common sense rules like not committing murder. They want others to live a Christian lifestyle. Many others reject their sanctimonious bullshit, but the Crusaders would love to impose it on them. Perhaps you can explain that, chickenshit.

If you knew anything about the teaching of Christianity you would know God lets us make our own decisions.

and if you knew anything about the workings of the human mind and had any knowledge of logic you would understand that god does not allow you to make decisions.

your DNA, your environment, your upbringing, outside influences all impact your decision making and are all outside of your control.

WE are all complicated Pavlov's dogs.

your DNA, your environment, your upbringing, outside influences all impact your decision making and are all outside of your control.

WE are all complicated Pavlov's dogs.

#17 | Posted by truthhurts

I am sorry to hear you think you have no mind of your own and that your actions or inacations are not your fault but a product of your invironment.

Typical liberal bullshit. "It's not my fault, I had a bad childhood"

Then there are non-believing people just living their lives quietly (like a lot of us) then there are the zealots like yourself.

What makes me a zealot?

Is it the fact that I speak out against fundies?

Or is it my opposition to religious interference in my life or the government?

Is it my tendency to attack the hypocritical "christian conservative" mindset?

Or it is just because I disagree with damn near everything you stand for?

I am not telling you how to live your life. I am not trying to restrict your ability to practice your religion. Your christian crusaders of the evangelical movement would love to dictate the terms of my life, though.

#16 - YES!

While touting the Christian God's gift of "free will" they demand obedience from everyone, even those that do not believe what they believe. They lobby to put their dogma into our secular nation's law. They don't get it. By keeping Church and State separate, no one religion wins - and that, in the end, is their only protection.

I am sorry to hear you think you have no mind of your own and that your actions or inacations are not your fault but a product of your invironment.

So you chose to misspell "environment"? Or was it a product of a poor education and a night of heavy drinking?

Typical liberal bullshit.

If you believe it to be bullshit, prove it. Othewise, you're just blowing hot air.

#21 | Posted by ZombieHunter

Glad to see the typo/grammar nazis are here this morning. You must be so proud of yourself.

I am not telling you how to live your life. I am not trying to restrict your ability to practice your religion. Your christian crusaders of the evangelical movement would love to dictate the terms of my life, though.

#19 | Posted by ZombieHunter

They are not MY crusaders, I think that is the point you people refuse to see.

ZAP-No, the permission is what some think will keep people that don't have "need" from using this option. They want you to apply to a "committee" anmd receive the go ahead. It may take forever for them to hear your case be cause someone will put in a "lifer" who will delay thing and effectively ruin the process.

Glad to see the typo/grammar nazis are here this morning. You must be so proud of yourself.

Hardly. Just making a point.

They are not MY crusaders, I think that is the point you people refuse to see.

I know you're not exactly a fundie. You certainly sympathize with them, though. You're kind of like the sort in Gaza that turns the other way when Hamas is launching rockets from their backyard. Except no one makes you do it.

Fundie you may not be, but you're still a jackass. So I'll revel in your righteous indignation just the same.

Eventually there will be instances of assisted suicide being manipulated for dark reasons. People will die at least in part because it's to someone else's advantage. It's just a matter of time.

"Free will" is dogma? Then you have no choice but to ask to be killed. Strange.

"Common sense rules like not committing murder..."

Committing murder was common sense to a Comanche in Texas circa 1840. I suppose the fall back position is they were mentally ill. All 40,000 of them.

Eventually there will be instances of assisted suicide being manipulated for dark reasons. People will die at least in part because it's to someone else's advantage. It's just a matter of time.

If something exists, it can be "manipulated for dark reasons"... learn the history of your religion.

Committing murder was common sense to a Comanche in Texas circa 1840.

What the definition of murder is a social construct. He probably didn't see it as murder.

Zed, I live in WA, there are so many safeguards on this you wouldn't believe it.

2 or 3 seperate Dr's have to sign an affidavit that the patient is terminal and has less than 6 mos. to live. Then there's a waiting period, then the patient has to make a verbal and written request, and there has to be some time between the two etc.

We voted for it, and it was no big deal up here when it happened.

"Free will" is dogma? Then you have no choice but to ask to be killed. Strange.

?

I love the idea.

BTW, what happened to your radio show? I miss it.

"He probably didn't see it as murder...."

You're right. Comanches conceptualized murder as vocation, strictly a matter of common sense. The question being, would you have sat still for it, or cheered on the Texas Rangers?

If free will doesn't exist, then human interactions reduce to sort of kabuki dance. It's just that the parts are randomly assigned,

Rangers are in first place.

If free will doesn't exist, then human interactions reduce to sort of kabuki dance. It's just that the parts are randomly assigned.

While one may be more appealing to you than the other, there's no way to tell if what you are doing has been preordained or is freely chosen.

So quit stewing about it; it's a waste of time.

#32: We still have our other shows, we just put Drudge Retort Report on hiatus as it was getting to be too much to do 3 radio shows on the weekend.

We still all have our regular shows and The Free World Pub on Sat morning. The Pub is kinda like DRR except it's an open discussion and free exchange of ideas.
It's on Sat morning 11 AM EDT.

"It's a waste of time..."

It's only a waste of time if your position is the correct one. Everything, in fact, becomes a waste of time.

A glorified ant hill. But, you are right, the ants never stew about it.

"People will die at least in part because it's to someone else's advantage. It's just a matter of time.

#26 | Posted by Zed at 2009-05-24 12:00 PM"

Let's start with Republicans, since it will be to the Nation's (and world's) advantage.

ZAP-No, the permission is what some think will keep people that don't have "need" from using this option. They want you to apply to a "committee" anmd receive the go ahead. It may take forever for them to hear your case be cause someone will put in a "lifer" who will delay thing and effectively ruin the process.
#24 | POSTED BY KEITH204

If there is any lucidity in there it is hard to find.

Keith use your head.

If you commit suicide what are they going to do, arrest you?

If you commit suicide what are they going to do, arrest you?

Posted by Zap

according to Michael Newton, PH.D...the Soul just reincarnates into another body ~ quickly!

Why they even needed this law to allow for something that most everybody knowingly turned their head to since seemingly forever escapes logic.

#41: According to Mahayana Buddhism the "soul" (they don't use that word they way we do)is reborn on the 49th day following death.

Depending on it's Karma, it could come back as human, or as a slug.

Depending on it's Karma, it could come back as human, or as a slug.

If one's karma is bad they come back as a human, if their karma is good, they come back as a slug.

Why they even needed this law to allow for something that most everybody knowingly turned their head to since seemingly forever escapes logic.

My read is the 'Government Permission' is for the care giver not for the dying. To be able to remove suffering from a terminal patient without being prosecuted.
#10 | POSTED BY ZAP

If one's karma is bad they come back as a human, if their karma is good, they come back as a slug.

If it's real bad you get a screen name on the Retort...

like TedBundy?

In it's final stage my Mom's breast cancer had gone systemic - from the bone marrow it then colonized her lungs.

Her doctor took her off Lasix and she began retaining fluid. Her legs became swollen, and her lungs started filling up. She tried so hard to breathe. Finally her heart gave out.

Cause of death: Homicide.

Zat mentioned that a heating pad can accelerate the delivery of narcotic from Duragesic patches. I don't know my Mom could have made that choice. She'd had some TIAs and they increased her anxiety. But if I had foresight and the option of seeing my Mom off in a less stressful manner I would have agreed to assist.

I've seen enough of the elderly warehouse system. Hospitals use nursing homes for post-op therapy. Abrogation of responsibility if you ask me because the surgeons are able to pass off their patients in a day or two at most. That frees up their time so they can keep cutting and making money.

I'd like to go out with a Bang, but you won't find the barrel of a gun in my mouth. Yet I think I'd like some choice in the matter. Mandating that people suffer a heart attack only perpetuates a lie. The medical profession commits murder every day.

Moral issues are subjective. In a Free Nation the Individual chooses, and the State guards against Undue Influence. Seems the Law provides due diligence, though some rascal may well game the system. But that's not enough to intrude into a personal decision.

But if I had foresight and the option of seeing my Mom off in a less stressful manner I would have agreed to assist.

Don't be so sure. When my wife was in her final days the doctor tacitly gave me the power to hasten her death. She was on a morphine drip and the doctor was showing me the machine the supplied the morphine. Even though she was in a coma, he explained that she could push a button to deliver an extra dose if needed for a bout of pain. However, he explained, the button could be pushed only once an hour so as to avoid an OD. He continued, "but only if this key (a key in the machine) is turned. If it is unlocked, unlimited morphine can be delivered on demand".

He then walked away and I realized he was giving me the power to hasten her death. It gave me the shivers. Although we knew she had only a few days left, there is no way I could have hastened the process on my own.

your DNA, your environment, your upbringing, outside influences all impact your decision making and are all outside of your control.

WE are all complicated Pavlov's dogs.

#17 | Posted by truthhurts

* ...has been widely discredited as a theory for explaining human behavior ever since Noam Chomsky blew Skinner out of the water with his theory of Universal Grammar.

If one's karma is bad they come back as a human, if their karma is good, they come back as a slug.

#44 | Posted by goatman

well since animals cant be evil, perhaps a slug's life is the better one.

well since animals cant be evil, perhaps a slug's life is the better one.

Pretty much my point, TH.

Just hope you aren't a slug born on the Bonneville Salt Flats, though. *grin*

"Louise Bundy's younger sister Julia recalled a disturbing incident with her young nephew. After lying down in the Cowells' home for a nap, Julia woke to find herself surrounded by knives from the Cowell kitchen. Three-year-old Ted was standing by the bed, smiling at her."

Just hope you aren't a slug born on the Bonneville Salt Flats, though. *grin*

"life of a Taiwanese goat"

Wind farms killing goats. Whoda thunk? Thanks for the story, Z -- that was interesting.

Animals In Print
The On-Line Newsletter

From 3 November 2000 Issue:

"GEORGE W. BUSH BLEW UP FROGS"

MIDLAND, Texas ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2000

An alert for American voters and humane educators everywhere appeared on May 21 in the 61st through 64th paragraphs of a 76-paragraph NEW YORK TIMES feature on the childhood of Republican candidate for U.S. president George W. Bush -- if anyone noticed.

One of the local rituals for children, reported Nicholas D. Kristof of Life in Midland, Texas, when George W. was a boy, were meetings with cookies and milk at the home of a nice old lady who represented the SPCA. The cookies were digested more thoroughly than the teachings.

`We were terrible to animals,' recalled [Bush pal Terry] Throckmorton, laughing. A dip behind the Bush borne turned into a small lake after a good rain, and thousands of frogs would come out. `Everybody would get BB guns and shoot them,' Throckmorton said. `Or we'd put firecrackers in the frogs and throw them and blow them up.'

Kristof made plain that we explicitly included George W. Bush, and that George W., the Safari Club International Governor of the Year in 1999 for his support of trophy hunting, was the leader among the boys who did it.

`We were terrible to animals,' recalled [Bush pal Terry] Throckmorton, laughing. A dip behind the Bush borne turned into a small lake after a good rain, and thousands of frogs would come out. `Everybody would get BB guns and shoot them,' Throckmorton said. `Or we'd put firecrackers in the frogs and throw them and blow them up.'

Pretty much normal adolescent behavior for a lot of males and I for one make no apologies for it. You should ask me sometime what we did to incoming freshmen at my prep school, some of it makes waterboarding look tame.

Aside from the chicken-whatever, the testosterone set is mighty quiet today. Where are the Pretend Paratroopers? (Probably waving flags somewhere.) I'd think the supermachos would suggest that a REAL man, even if "his" name is Linda, gut it out. Taking action is For Pussies Only. herm

I still have a 8mm of me barely hanging on an inner tube tied to a speedboat...

should have it transfer to dvd so all my acquaintances/friends can get their jollies watching me cartwheel off into the sunset:>)

Other goats don't do well, either.
Eagle Hunting A Goat
www.youtube.com

#56 | Posted by Zatoichi

OMFG!!! LOL!!! o.O

What, The first legal assistant committed suicide in DC. I suppose this was George Bushes fault too....

Washington State you stupid fuck.

I hear Sylvan Learning Centers work wonders, perhaps you should look into it.

Wonders perhaps. Miracles, no.

Powerful stories from OZ and G-man.

This issue is so personal when we come to Death's door.

At times it is too soon for some folks and not soon enough for others.

This woman would die inside of three months.

It is so profoundly sad that there was no one to cheer her up to find some kind of life, a sunset, a merry-go-round, a flower, a kind act, a song, or joy for those three months.

This makes me think of Omega Man--check out time without the need for a terminal illness to do the deed.

It is the culture of Death that this promotes.

I hope to never be in a position to need or want this service, but I believe an adult that has control of their faculties should be allowed to make this choice. Sad if the best choice you have is death.

I don't know if this will lead to the 'slippery slope' we hear of so often, such as families deciding that the old are a burden and having them done away with.

As for the moral grounds, I wonder if the "assisted" part of this is so that those who want to be Christian can have someone else do the killing, thus allowing them to go to heaven. One of the few things that I remember from my childhood [vaguely] was the scandal of a neighbor that killed himself and the church wouldn't allow him to be buried in the family area next to his wife.

Still, sad for everyone if that is the only choice left. I think sometimes our ability to extend life exceeds our ability to make life meaningful.

As a society we put pets 'to sleep' to prevent them from suffering. Yet, we deny adults with painful and terminal diseases who are capable of thinking through their own decisions that right.

"Thus allowing them to go to heaven..."

The "assisted" part is so the suicidally inclined won't make a mess of it. Aside from that, there is no way to trick yourself into heaven

"I don't know if this will lead to the slippery slope..."

One thing that can be counted on is that many smart people will work overtime looking for ways to exploit this to to personal advantage.

Such people will include some physicians.

Aside from that, there is no way to trick yourself into heaven

LOL!

And what heaven would that be? And am interested as how you are qualified to determine a way to heaven.

"And what Heaven would that be...?"

Why, THE Heaven, of course. Find it a nasty concept?

"Am interested as how you are qualified..."

I am, by definition, no more qualified than the next human being. But if you admit the concept of Heaven you also admit Someone is qualified, and that the process can't be subverted by attempting to pass off brass tokens.

"Such people will include physicians..."

Because they are, after all, just people. This isn't going to work as well as is hoped. Twenty years from now there'll be this great expose regarding how the sick were manipulated for the greed and advantage of a few.

Washington State you stupid fuck.

I hear Sylvan Learning Centers work wonders, perhaps you should look into it.

#64 | Posted by briwo at

Oh come on! You had to see some humor in that.

Why, THE Heaven, of course. Find it a nasty concept?

Christian heaven or Islamic heaven? What about nirvana? What about breaking the cycle of samsara?

"Such people will include physicians..."

Because they are, after all, just people. This isn't going to work as well as is hoped. Twenty years from now there'll be this great expose regarding how the sick were manipulated for the greed and advantage of a few.

#73 | Posted by Zed at 2009-05-25 10:08 AM | Reply | Flag: HAS TO STOOP TO COMMENTING ON HIS OWN POSTS....SAD, REALLY SAD.