you of course ask the exact question that the writer of this episode is hoping every listener is considering as they listen. I think what makes this episode so fascinating is that it confronts us with "what what I do in this situation?" It's hard to know what we might do, if we are desparate enough. I think it would be very easy for someone to rationalize that killing an anonymous person really is not that big of an ethical breach -- after all, we do it in war all the time (collateral damage, we call it) in order to gain our safety and sense of security. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that we do the same thing with the animals we eat -- it's easy to devour a hamburger as long as we don't have to see the cow being slaughtered. Would I push the button? I don't think so...I hope I wouldn't. But....