Dear Hassie,

I'll repeat O Sung Wu's plea:

Stay strong!

You have a family that loves you dearly. You're held
in high esteem here on the forum. And if there's
anything you need - all you have to do is ask any
one of us. We're here for you, and always will be.

You're loved.

Foxy, o sung wu, thankyou, but my post was not a complaint, or cry for help. It was a simple statement of my intentions.

I'll stick around as long as life has something to offer me, but having seen a very good nursing home in my mother's last months, I will not be going to one.

Yes o sung wu I have had a fantastic life. I was so lucky to be born at the time when an average person could actually get to do everything I've done. I was only one of many enjoying shoestring fun. I don't think it is possible to day, as rules & regulations have made many of my things needed just too expensive. My son was complaining that to earn the money to pay for the things I've enjoyed, leaves one with no time to actually do them.

I am not going to jump off a cliff [or drive into a tree] any time soon, but when I can no longer ride my mower down to mow my toy plane strips, give the old horse a carrot, or the dog a run beside me the time will be close.

My eldest daughter chastised me the other month when I wouldn't take mu classic out in the rain. She reckoned it was no good owning a beautiful classic from the grave, better to leave a battered & worn out classic for some new owner to restore. She is right of course.

So don't feel sorry for me, I don't. My aches & pains are only the result of a life fully lived.

Dear Hassie,

Glad to see the Hassie we know and love is still
with us.

I hope that you'll live to a ripe old age and maybe
even get around to writing a book. I'd buy it
that's for sure.

.

Dear o sung wu,

.

You wrote :

« … provided the patient is appropriately medicated to ease pain & suffering, my position is, to allow nature to take her course. Moreover, I understand we have very effective palliative care in this country »
.

That’s the general theory, o sung wu, but, unfortunately, the practical reality can, all too often, be totally and excruciatingly different. Hasbeen’s personal experience is just one example :

« Pain prevents me walking up or down steps, or even a not very steep gradient. Pain killers don't work … so palliative care is out for me thanks »
.

You also wrote :

« On the question of Punishment - by permitting the authorities to wilfully kill another human being, well I'm on record, as being totally against it »

I am against any such “punishment” too, o sung wu. I consider that modern democratic civilisations should adopt the philosophy of the “social contract” in all its aspects and consequences. It should become the basis of our criminal law and be applied as such.

The social contract is an implied contract between the state and all individuals within its jurisdiction. Any individual who breaches the contract by committing one or more of the most atrocious crimes – the subject of this forum discussion – deserves what he has earned (“quantum meruit”) and as much as it was worth (“quantum valebat”) – neither more, nor less.

He deserves to lose his right to life. He deserves to be be euthanised as painlessly and humanely as modern science will allow.

Needless to say, I should consider this a logical consequence and a fair judgment, if ever I, personally, were to commit a cold-blooded murder or any other atrocious crime.

.

Dear Banjo,

The conclusion, «He deserves to lose his right to life», could be correct if indeed there was a social contract with that other person.

But what about those who never signed that contract?

«The social contract is an implied contract between the state and all individuals within its jurisdiction.»

But this is not true. Just because someone happens to be born on the face of this earth in a place which you one-sidedly deem to be your "jurisdiction" does not imply any agreement whatsoever with you. In fact it is quite possible that the other never wanted to have anything to do with you or with your group.

In other words, your wish for a social contract does not mean that actually there is one.

So what are you to do if you worry about potential murders and the like?

- You could still kill them who put your life in danger, but only in self-defence, not because they presumably deserve to lose their life. You may not use that as an excuse.

Hasbeen I am unhappy to hear you are like that old mate
I too am about the same, winter is in the hands of my life long mate the black dog
Mate we men do not talk much about such but we should
I have found a helpful tip, never ever give in
Get joy from the little things, sitting under a tree and watching the birds helps
But yes if my life is to end badly it will not be a long death

Back to the thread read the stuff about soldiers deaths by firing squad know we get emotional, but some deserve the death sentence