A Bill Of Responsibilities

17th September, 2009 by Rich Dixon No Comments

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Benjamin Franklin

bill-of-rights-01It’s a lot easier to assert my rights than to act responsibly. (more…)

An Embarrassing Sense Of Entitlement

15th September, 2009 by Rich Dixon 2 Comments

Congress acknowledged that society’s accumulated myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow from actual impairment. William J. Brennan, Jr.

Ext_historicalI have a confession: I tend to get possessive and judgmental about disabled parking spaces. (more…)

Legislating Morality

10th September, 2009 by Rich Dixon 1 Comment

 An ethical person ought to do more than he’s required to do and less than he’s allowed to do.

You can’t mandate morality.

Call it what you want—morality, ethics, or character can’t be codified. Laws, rules, and regulations are always lowest common denominators. Attempts to legislate moral behavior simply create a cottage industry aimed at finding loopholes or avoiding detection. (more…)