Governments pass laws to govern the behavior of people. Propaganda to attain by-in from the public so it can be seen as the result of democracy is ubiquitous. What or who defends minority opinion and individuals from the tyranny of democracy. People petition government to impose their views on those who don't hold them. "But I don't want you to [cause goes here] for the good of society!"
Governments pass laws to govern the behavior of people. Propaganda to attain by-in from the public so it can be seen as the result of democracy is ubiquitous. What or who defends minority opinion and individuals from the tyranny of democracy. People petition government to impose their views on those who don't hold them. "But I don't want you to [cause goes here] for the good of society!"
100%, Dave. Spot on. Now, there’s an argument to be made that there are clear cases where one party harms another. But harming yourself is, by definition, never one of those cases. There’s also a difference between supporting something like healthcare finance and legislating individual morality. We pool money for healthcare with health insurance. That’s different from telling someone they can’t do something because we feel it’s morally objectionable or because we worry about the (usually extremely minor) risk it will hurt them.
"But harming yourself is, by definition, never one of those cases."
Except when you're a child.
If we were talking about adults, we'd basically be in 100% agreement. I'm not saying a word about cross-sex hormones or any other surgical options for adults because, as you say, adults should be free to suffer the consequences of their own actions.
But children are in a particularly vulnerable situation, especially with regards to this treatment. All the data say that at least 80% of children won't need these drugs if they go through their natural puberty. While around 95% of children will become lifelong medical patients if they're not allowed to go through their natural puberty.
So if you're prescribing these medications, you'd better have solid data-backed reasoning for doing so. And as far as I can see, the opposite is the case. Again, every country that has done a systemic review of puberty blockers has based or severely curtailed them. As well as shutting down some of the irresponsible gender clinics catering to children.
Governments pass laws to govern the behavior of people. Propaganda to attain by-in from the public so it can be seen as the result of democracy is ubiquitous. What or who defends minority opinion and individuals from the tyranny of democracy. People petition government to impose their views on those who don't hold them. "But I don't want you to [cause goes here] for the good of society!"
100%, Dave. Spot on. Now, there’s an argument to be made that there are clear cases where one party harms another. But harming yourself is, by definition, never one of those cases. There’s also a difference between supporting something like healthcare finance and legislating individual morality. We pool money for healthcare with health insurance. That’s different from telling someone they can’t do something because we feel it’s morally objectionable or because we worry about the (usually extremely minor) risk it will hurt them.
"But harming yourself is, by definition, never one of those cases."
Except when you're a child.
If we were talking about adults, we'd basically be in 100% agreement. I'm not saying a word about cross-sex hormones or any other surgical options for adults because, as you say, adults should be free to suffer the consequences of their own actions.
But children are in a particularly vulnerable situation, especially with regards to this treatment. All the data say that at least 80% of children won't need these drugs if they go through their natural puberty. While around 95% of children will become lifelong medical patients if they're not allowed to go through their natural puberty.
So if you're prescribing these medications, you'd better have solid data-backed reasoning for doing so. And as far as I can see, the opposite is the case. Again, every country that has done a systemic review of puberty blockers has based or severely curtailed them. As well as shutting down some of the irresponsible gender clinics catering to children.