Sould the government reward people for being kind as it punishes people for being cruel?

[ZombieHorde]

For example, if someone volunteers ten hours a week at a food bank, should the government reward them somehow? The reward could be money, a medal, or a free zombie DVD. I have not thought this through, just a random thought to help me procrastinate my homework.

eta: By cruelty, I am referring to crimes which involve victims, such as murder.

[Donnachaidh]

1. We need to be rooting out the evil far more than we do

Yes, people do kind things, but then those kind things are used for PR purposes, and to fill air time while the really heinous crap isn't even reported on. People need a reality check as to how bad things have got, rather than more *feel good* reporting, or awarding medals.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I am not talking about the media's actions, I am talking about the government's actions.

If you pollute too much, the government may fine you, if you pick up garbage by the river everyday, the government does nothing.

[Donnachaidh]

7. so then we can only expect people to *do good* for a reward?

How Pavlovian!

Do you honestly expect people to do *more* if there is some sort of reward attached? Sounds like a bad script for a reality show. :eyes:

[ZombieHorde]

9. Another poster on another thread sugested that people who commit heinus crimes should suffer,

and this suffering should come from the state. So I turned it around and made it into a DU poll.

so then we can only expect people to *do good* for a reward?

Do we only expect people to renounce evil for fear of punishment?

How Pavlovian!

Are we really so different?

Do you honestly expect people to do *more* if there is some sort of reward attached?

I was not thinking along those lines. I was just thinking that punishing the bad was the flip side of rewarding the good.

Sounds like a bad script for a reality show.

Which reality show has a good script?

[Donnachaidh]

11. most of the people *I* know only renounce evil because they expect punishment

I live in a red state. :evilgrin:

And most of the folks I know in my area, don't *do good* unless they think a)someone's watching them and b)they stand to gain from their actions.

:shrug:

[corruptmewithpower]

2. Virtue is it's own reward? It's just an old truism, yet I do feel better when

I try to help make life a little better for others. Likewise I'd feel badly if I did something harmful to another person or critter.

[ozu]

3. ignore cruelty?

You mean like not prosecuting murder?

[ZombieHorde]

5. Yes.

[Howzit]

6. Kindness by definition means doing good without the expectation of compensation

How will the govt identify those that qualify for kindness awards? How does one prevent me from nominating you and us from sharing the reward?

If I had my way, all politicians would be working for the people as acts of charity with no expectation of material rewards - true public service. As soon as politicians decide who qualifies for a special reward, corruption is not far behind.

[Earth_First]

8. Pffft...

If the government wanted to reward me for kindness, they'd get off my back and issue us a health department certificate to serve food to the homeless. They'd allow us to unconditionally house anyone willing to seek shelter when temperatures drop below zero degrees...

If I wanted to be rewarded for my kindness, the single most appriciative thing that the government could do for me as an individual would be to fu*k off and let organizations care for the individuals who have fallen through...

That'd be payment enough for me.

[ZombieHorde]

10. I guess they would allow for medical marijuana as well.

So sad.