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To: To Hell With Poverty
Frustrating that “the State” should have to pay for what the doctor did. I know this woman deserves something, but why force today’s taxpayers to face the punishment deserved by yesterday’s lawmakers?

You make a fair point. I simply don't know what the most just solution might be.

As you point out, the victim mentioned above does deserve some compensation--although monetary damages seem hugely inadequate. To penalize today's taxpayers for the misdeeds of yesteryear's lawmakers, however, does not seem quite like an equitable solution. In fact, it is reminiscent of "affirmative action" programs that punish college applicants, prospective employees, or anyone else because of the misdeeds of others in past generations.

However, since it would be impossible to have this woman (or other victims of eugenics) "made whole," in the words of one North Carolina lawmaker, by simply excoriating past lawmakers, this seems like a non-solution.

But that still does not prove that it is okay to penalize those who are innocent of any wrongdoing in this case.

It is a serious conundrum. I just don't know what sort of action would most nearly satisfy the interests of justice.

9 posted on 08/04/2007 11:34:07 AM PDT by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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To: AmericanExceptionalist; To Hell With Poverty

The STATE of North Carolina implemented and funded this program, the STATE’S liability does not cease because there are different lawmakers in North Carolina today.


14 posted on 08/04/2007 11:41:02 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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