Hi there,

I’m not sure
whether to laugh or cry over remarks made by a doddering member of New
Hampshire’s lower house. Martin Harty told a constituent that “the world is too populated” and there are “too many
defective people”. This included “the mentally ill, the retarded,
people with physical disabilities and drug addictions – the defective people
society would be better off without.” Nature has a way of “getting
rid of stupid people,” and “now we’re saving everyone who gets
born,” he said.

This made national news. A local paper, the
Concord Monitor, thundered that “Harty was elected to represent all his
constituents, not just those he considers worthy of basic human rights. His
views are an affront to common decency and a stain on the reputation of the New
Hampshire House.”

So, after only two months as a state
legislator, the 91-year-old Mr Harty resigned. Good riddance, I suppose, but
isn’t there a double standard here? Getting rid of the disabled is an everyday
occurrence in the US, Australia and the UK, and no doubt many other countries
as well. In fact, in another
article in this week’s newsletter, we report that scientists have developed
yet another quick and easy pregnancy test for Down Syndrome. Well over 90% of these
children are aborted, even though most of them could have lived happy and
fulfilled lives. That, too, is “an affront to common decency. 

I hope that you enjoy the newsletter. Cheers. 

Michael Cook
Editor

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Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

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