From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!hou5f!ariel!houti!trc
Newsgroups: net.politics
Title: RE: Social responsibility/obligation
Article-I.D.: houti.225
Posted: Mon Mar  7 16:48:04 1983
Received: Tue Mar  8 03:50:50 1983


With regard to social responsibility:  anything that is given to one
should not have strings attached unless the recipient is aware of those
strings.  However, there is such a thing as gratitude for gifts freely
given.  I think that "degree of appreciation" is a better way of looking
at this question than "degree of debt" or "personal feeling of debt".
(Perhaps this is quibbling - I dont seem to disagree with brian in 
any real way.  I just feel it is important not to use a potentially 
confusing term like "debt" in this case.)

And there is no obligation to feel grateful - it is just a natural feeling
arising from the obvious benefits to one gained in living in a society.
The same goes for "patriotism", at least to the degree of love of one's
nation (regardless of the current govt. - I dont see governments as productive,
so I dont see any way that it could rightfully have anything to give for one 
to feel grateful for).