This Saturday 1st August 8-9 PM on It’s A Question Of Balance with Ruth Copland we consider ‘Should we be saved from ourselves?’ There seems to be a general understanding that it is the government’s job to protect us from other people – murderers, rapists, thieves, terrorists – but I’m wondering if you think it’s the government’s job to protect us from ourselves and our potential bad choices. If we look at how we can abuse our bodies – abuse of prescription and illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and food, for example, this abuse involves personal choice and personal responsibility. However, some of these choices may be predicated on socio-economic disadvantage, and/or psychological and emotional trauma, which perhaps affect the ability to make good choices. Does it make sense therefore for the government to try to influence our choices in these areas? Should we be saved from ourselves? Or is it up to us? There’s a discrepancy with how we are dealing with poor personal choices in regard to our health. In some instances we are saying it’s personal choice, in others we are using the law to try to control people’s behaviour. Should there be consistency?
What do you think? Ruth Copland gets the views of people on the street for our Out and About feature. Join us on Saturday 8-9 PM! For more info on the show and to hear past shows visit www.itsaquestionofbalance.com
