Schiavo case is not "government intrusion"

Is the Terri Schiavo debacle really a case of government intrusion into our lives that should spark worry among "small government Republicans"? Is it true that Republicans "have become a party of, 'It doesn't matter what size government is as long as it is imposing our set of values'"? (Baltimore Sun a la TKS)

I don't think so. Once you look at the specifics of the situation, I don't believe this case sets a precedent for more Republican-sanctioned government intrusion. For one, the Schiavo case is extremely specific: she is viable to live on her own, she is not on life support, her blood family wants her alive while her adulterous husband wants her dead. This is not a matter of intrusion into the lives of citizens. (Look for that in liberal social programs.) This is a matter of trying to protect life and liberty.

Now, whatever happens, I don't propose doing anything illegal to save Terri Schiavo on the justification that it's doing the right thing. Yes, it's wrong for the state to kill her, but there is more at risk than just Terri's life: the integrity of the American system. If we want to avoid this kind of mess later on, we should change the laws. I only wish they were already changed. The system must remain sound and unbroken. Challenged and changed when necessary, perhaps, but respected when wrong nonetheless. That's why I don't advocate physically stopping abortionists from performing that barbaric act--two wrongs don't make a right, and it's better for the system if we simply change the laws. Often that's a harder alternative to accomplish, but I'll say it again--our system's integrity must remain intact.