A few days ago, I wrote this reply to a recent column by C. Krauthammer in the Washington Post:
I am a handicapped person. I was born handicapped as a result of an accident during my birth. I grew up in a family of conservative Republicans who taught me that I would always have to rely on myself, with no help from others. Even if I had to literally crawl up a set of stairs, or go up the path used by the garbage delivery trucks--or go an extra mile to find a curb break.
Fortunately, I did well in school. By the time I had my Master's degree, there were accommodations for disabled people at my university, thanks to federal law. When I went out into the working world, I found that my needs would be respected.
I cannot tell you how different today's world is from the world of my childhood, especially for someone like me. And it is all because--and only because--of government regulation.
Yes, the state did make me great--much greater than I would have been without its help.
This was only a simple statement of fact. On a philosophical level, I would like to add a few more comments, given below.
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