j.r. leonard

So should we never point out this kind of behavior then? Sigh. What good are ethics if we can’t discuss them?

Moralizing is not ethics

It literally is. Harming people for your own self interest is unethical. It’s the golden rule: the center of all ethics. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

No. Ethical discussion involve establishing an ethical framework, thinking through various lines of moral reasoning, and an honest assessment of counterfactuals and differing opinions. Assuming you’re right and lecturing other people for not agreeing with you is moralizing

Ok well my ethical framework is utilitarian satisfaction of human needs. The greatest good for the greatest number. And in my view selfish financial interest is not more important than health insurance. And it’s malicious to have that kind of selfishness because it harms others.

“All these people aren’t my problem” isn’t just some opinion, it’s a set of really malicious values. Values that harm the society as a whole.

The other aspect of meaningful ethical discussions is refraining from offering these kinds of very weak straw man characterizations of people who might disagree

It’s literally the same rationale you yourself stated for why some people opposed the law. Their own personal financial self interest. So is the straw man yours as much as mine?