I added then that “a recent case in the Netherlands confirms my strong reservations.” Now we have even more recent cases in Canada, which has decided that offing society’s most expensive and vulnerable members is just wonderful. Speaking of wonder, I wonder when the Left will apologize to Sarah Palin, who correctly pointed out that national health care inevitably leads to rationing and “death panels,” and was demonized and mocked for it.

When I saw this video and the horrific statistics it reveals, I immediately thought of Ann Althouse, a TikTok addict, whom I was sure would pounce on it and use it on her blog. (I would not watch TikTok on my own while it was owned by Chinese interests, and I have not yet broken the habit since New Years, when American owners took over.) Sure enough, there it was. Ann’s commenters managed to cover pretty much all the ethics bases about why Canada’s euthanasia policies are disturbing yet telling, and I’d urge you to read them here.

I’ll close with this: the United States of America was founded on the values of individualism, autonomy, stubbornness, courage, fortitude, optimism, and the belief that everyone in society has rights, one of which is the right to life. Allowing the government to determine when someone has the right to end his or her own life is an irresolvable ethics conflict; because doing so breaches some core values, like responsibility, accountability and respect. Upholding those societal values are why it is appropriate for the government to declare its ethical and moral opposition to suicide by making it unlawful.

However, when the government takes an active role in the individual’s decision by enabling and abetting suicide, it does so with a clear conflict of interest. The conflict that leads to “Logan’s Run,” the science fiction film about a future society in which the population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by killing everyone who reaches the age of 30. 50, 70, 90…the age doesn’t change the ethical equation for a society that embraces life and autonomy.

The Founders’ version of a republic is not for the faint-hearted and weenies, nor is capitalism. However, a culture that encourages life, struggle ,and individual choice (though not the choice to kill another for one’s own convenience) is one worth fighting for….and apparently fighting for it is what we will have to do.