Do you think the cat would rather you shoot it than a person? In reality human beings are no more important than a rock. The concept of anything being important for that matter is a human concept.So why should humans be more important than animals?

Too bad people do so many shite things to one another, even though they have the rational capabilities to choose not to. I don't like people, is the issue. It's not that my priorities are stupid.

That's probably true for some people, but not for most. And if you really think people have more sympathy for non-humans than for homeless people consider this question: Which kind of shelter euthanizes their residents, homeless shelters or animal shelters?

there's no denying that we're a terrible species.

Well if you pointed a gun at a cat, it wouldn't even be able to understand what was going on or the threat that it was under. But if somehow the cat was able to understand the situation, then I am guessing that it would prefer you to shoot the human instead.

Why should humans be more important than animals? Well I guess human worth is something that everyone weighs differently. Personally I find humans more important because of all the advances we have made. We are smarter and able to do things animals can't.

Meh. We're a mixed bag just like every other species.

I think we place more value on humans because we're humans. Pretty simple really. Lions undoubtedly place more value on lions.

But to your point about being worth more because we're smarter: Do you also value the lives of the mentally handicapped less than other people? Why or why not?

Europeans had made a far more advanced civilization than Africans by the time of slavery. What if an advanced alien species that makes us look like Down Syndrome children suddenly comes to Earth?

I don't think the government has more sympathy towards animals. And I'm not even saying 'most' people. My hometown is a backwoods huntin-n-fishin town. Driving around in a pick-up truck with baseball bats, finding opossums to beat on back roads during the night is a hobby. Kids light stray cats on fire. So I can gather that most people don't put animals above people on the totem pole. But I feel like a lot of people look down on a homeless bum. You'll see a homeless guy sitting there and all he wants is pocket change but most people won't spare it. But if there was a cute cat sitting there and it looked like it needed help, I bet more people would be ready to help it out.

The cat can not help itself, while the homeless bum may very well spend the money on a bottle of Thunderbird.