The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #130569 Message #2939813
Posted By: mousethief
04-Jul-10 - 07:30 PM
Thread Name: BS: Ethics of Opportunism
Subject: RE: BS: Ethics of Opportunism
The problem here is "I take it, it's mine" is true whether or not there is great need. Blanket justifications for theft go way beyond the abject poor attending to their needs. If I came and nabbed your car, would you be satisfied to give it up to me on the principle of "I took it, so it's mine"? Or would you use the legal system to try to get it back? Or would you wait until night and steal it back? How much anarchy and lawlessness are you prepared to embrace?
I don't see how dumpster diving is theft. Trying to portray it as such, or trying to make it illegal (or succeeding therein), are wrong.
I agree that the rich using their riches wastefully, while others go hungry and unsheltered, is a horrible wrong. But how far does that apply? If I let some leftovers go bad in the back of the fridge and throw them out, am I being as evil as a billionaire who lets living space go unused to drive up rents?