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by wang_li 1117 days ago
How far do you extend this idea? A dollar diverted to a poor person is a dollar that can’t be used to grow humanity’s knowledge and capabilities. Is it immoral to be poor? A dollar spent on beer? Time spent having sex instead of researching the mysteries of the universe? How about low intelligence people reproducing with other low intelligence people to make low intelligence babies (“Three generations of imbeciles is enough.”) that will have to be fed and clothed and sheltered? Should people be allowed to be homeless? Be drug addicts?

In the grand scheme of things social programs have done way more harm to the advancement of knowledge than high textbook prices.