Back to First Principles

In her May 8 commentary, Norah Vincent has put her finger on the one principle that would, if everyone adhered to it, make peace possible between all peoples: non-harm.

Doctors are familiar with it as part of the Hippocratic oath. Someday, this precious libertarian insight will be part of everyone’s education.

In the meantime, though, people like William Bennett rampage throughout the world, claiming the right to tell other people how to live. Surely it is even more disgusting when they are also, as in this case, hypocrites. Fortunately, his kind will be superseded when “First, do no harm” finally becomes the first principle of politics and not just of medicine.

Neal Donner

Los Angeles