The
Odds of Changing Protected Values
Protected
values, as explained by Hoch, Kunreuther, and Gunther (2001), are those for
which we “draw a line in the sand” and believe should not be sacrificed for any
compensatory benefit, regardless of the level of sacrifice or size of benefit
(p. 251). In his presentation before TEDGlobal (2005), Gilbert offers Plato’s
prophecy, “What space is to size, Time is to value”. He goes on to describe the
world from which our brains evolved and the world in which we now live.
Initially, we lived in small groups, with little differences, short life
expectancies, and our communal priority was to eat and reproduce (TEDGlobal,
2005). Gilbert states we are the “only species to hold its own fate”
(TEDGlobal, 2005). Does that mean we also have the ability to hold our
protected values, evaluate and re-evaluate, and attempt to determine expected
values of remaining true to those values (TEDGlobal, 2005)? If so, then why as
Gilbert notes, does making attempted adjustments with our values “bedevil our
attempts to make rational decisions” (TEDGlobal, 2005)?
I have strong opinions with regards
to gun control. LaFollette (2007)
queries if the very character of a gun is that which makes it “especially
harmful” (p. 183). As he continues, he notes guns were specifically created for
armies and “they were designed to cause (and threaten harm)” (LaFollette, 2007,
p. 184). This fundamental purpose is what further drives redesign to achieve
greater efficiency. We have progressed from flint, musket-ball pistols and
rifles, to Glock handguns and AR 15 assault rifles. LaFollette (2007) contends
gun control prescribes “what governments should allow private individuals to
do” not what the private citizen should do (p. 185). I do believe people
have the right to keep and bear arms. Do I think they need an AR-15 or some
other rapid fire assault weapon when our ancestors survived quite adequately
with long rifles and single shot musket balls? No. Suppose guns were outlawed?
Does anyone believe criminals would not develop a way to get guns? We banned
alcohol during prohibition and people still drank liquor. Just as extreme
positions are taken with gun control; the same occurs with arguments regarding
our environment.
This past August, one of my favorite
places in Flagler County was slated to be the site for what was described by
the local news service as:
The hyper-endurance race, called the “Jacksonville Super at Palm Coast,” entails turning the preserve into an 8 to 10-mile race course with 24 to 29 “natural” and artificial obstacles that radically alter the landscape and by Spartan’s own description “may cause substantial wear and tear.” The obstacle courses include barbed wire, scalable walls, mud—though Dunn says mud pits will not be part of this course—fire jumps, tire drags, traverse walls, carrying heavy loads of one sort or another and other obstacles (FlaglerLive, 2015).
I was absolutely sickened by the
thought of such an event taking place at place that is a pristine part of
Flagler, and Florida history. I grew up in Florida
and spent many a weekend camping and enjoying the beauty of its natural wonders.
I took my children camping and shared that same sense of wonder and awe of Mother
Nature. Although I am a member of the local tourism and can appreciate their
efforts for wanting to bring sporting events to Flagler in order to boost all
of the relevant taxes and increase tourism dollars; this was a line in the sand
moment. The overall cost and impact to the land far outweighed the
added benefit to tourism, at least in my mind. As FlaglerLive (2015) provided:
Spartan will be charging runners from $79 to $109, and more on the day of the race. It will have exclusive rights to parking fees and concessions, forbidding the county from having any competing, similar revenue sources. And Spartan “shall be entitled to retain all proceeds for the event, including ticketing, merchandise sales, onsite food, beverage and alcohol sales, coat checks, sponsorship and broadcast rights,” the contract states, “all obtained and priced in Spartan’s sole discretion.
The
ultimate slap in the face was this line, "Rather, the contract leaves
Spartan harmless if it does not restore a venue to its original state" (FlaglerLive,
2015). Thanks to many like-minded people, a Facebook Group was
created and the event was cancelled. Local happenings affect me
more than world-wide events such as world hunger.
I well remember my
parents telling me there were starving children around the world who would be
happy to have the dinner my mother worked to prepare. Funny, this same
conversation always took place on the nights we had liver; a food I do not eat
to this day. Singer opines we have a “positive obligation to help those in
great need” so long as the personal cost is not excessive; and, I would add so
long as we know the money being sent actually reaches the people and the region
in need (Happy & Well, 2012). Singer offers a progressive table as a
solution that allows a person to enter their annual earnings, adjust for
currency and purchasing power, and arrive at a percentage that allows for
charitable giving while not asking the person to give up luxuries such as
eating out, or going to the movies (Happy & Well, 2012). Singer states the
average Australian would be asked to give five percent of annual earnings. If
the average middle-income family earned $50,000; then 5% would equal $2500
annually, or less than $50 weekly (Happy & Well, 2012). Could the average
middle-income family afford to divert $50.00 a week? The dilemma, if you will,
is that because hunger and poverty happens all the time, each and every day, we
do not necessarily hear about it such as we would a disaster like Hurricane
Katrina. We know it’s there; but, we don’t wade into the weeds.
I
well remember Katrina. The call to action was heard across the globe, thus
demonstrating LaFollette’s (2007) position, “Our global economy makes our
mutual dependence clear” (p. 244). Harm had been done and even though neither
sole nor predominant responsibility could be assigned to any individual; and,
while it mattered not which stage of the “demographic transition theory (DTT)”
New Orleans’ residents occupied, there was never any cry to “let’em starve”
(LaFollette, 2007, p. 242). Americans gave and gave greatly; and, when it was
reported abuses took place regarding government funds that had been given to
victims; people questioned purchases such as breast augmentations and designer
purses; but, still gave.
Yes, there are ways we can all help. I volunteer for a
program known as Feed Flagler that collects food throughout the year in order
to provide not only a Thanksgiving meal for the needy in Flagler County; it
also donates canned goods to local food pantries. This is a continuation of
helping collect food through the Boys Scouts’ program, Scouting for Food,
designed as an Eagle Scout project to address neighborhood hunger. As Singer
notes, people are often skeptical with regards to giving money as they are
unsure if a greater portion of the funds actually reach targeted countries
(Happy & Well, 2012). It seems to me if the IRS can ask for a $1
contribution to the presidential campaign fund; we should be able to designate
a portion of our refund to a specific charity that has been approved by the
U.S. Government as one that truly meets the needs of the hungry and can
demonstrate its programs are effective.
As I age, some of my views
strengthen, while others soften. I see a greater need to be aware of the
environmental issues than I did twenty years ago. Likewise, some gun regulation
is required; but, not a complete ban and subsequent confiscation. I have grown
more critical of world hunger issues primarily because of the groups running
the programs. I still recall taxpayer dollars sent to Katrina victims that
never purchased survival supplies. Nonetheless, our willingness to protect
our values often begins with a line in the sand that in some situations can and
should be adjusted based on new information and more experiences. It is the
emotion we attach to our protected values that cause us, as Gilbert notes, to
become so “bedeviled” with rational decisions (TEDGlobal, 2005). Time is what
allows us to hold our ability to periodically adjust our values in our hands
and know when to stand firm. Twenty years ago, the odds of changing my values on gun control, the environment, and world hunger were quite slim; but, as I age and acquire more education, I often pause to rethink and readjust.
References
Happy & Well. (2012, Jun.
30). Peter
Singer 'The life you can save' at Happiness & Its Causes 2012. [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpV56D05ag0
Hoch, S.J., Kunreuther, H.C.,
& Gunther, R.E. (2001). Wharton on
Making Decisions.
Hoboken,
NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
LaFollette, H. (2007). The
Practice of Ethics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
TEDGlobal. (2005). Dan Gilbert:
Why we make bad decisions. [Video file]. Retrieved from
Tristam, P.
(2015, Aug. 19). Princess Place Preserve Slated for Extreme-Sport-Type
Endurance Race, and 6,000 Racers. FlaglerLive. Retrieved from http://flaglerlive.com/82576/spartan-race-palm-coast/
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