The Free Talk Live BBS
Free Talk Live => General => Topic started by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on September 27, 2006, 04:19:09 AM
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You Might Be a Statist If ...
by Daylan Darby
* your notion of justice forces victims to provide, in part, the criminal's room, food, and entertainment.
* you believe that those in government employ have never lied; or if they did it was for our own good.
* you confuse the proper role of society (provide needs) and government (enforce rights).
* you assume legislation can successfully and/or permanently change the laws of supply and demand.
* you loan your money (at 0%) to the government all year and happily anticipate a tax refund.
* you assert guns cause crime, foods cause obesity, schools cause education, or states create wealth.
* your answer to "love thy neighbor" is to force taxpayers to be the good Samaritan.
* you want to constrain the right of self-defense, expression, worship, or association.
* you believe a tax rate of X is acceptable, but a tax rate of 2X is somehow wrong or immoral.
* you feel more secure after standing in line for hours followed by groping and harassment by strangers.
* you want a government subsidy for arts, sports, farmers, corporations, foreign governments, etc.
* you wouldn't personally, but believe the government should, punish others for growing certain plants.
* you believe government has claim to our lives, liberties, and property for the "common welfare."
* you have ever said, "it's for the children," "there ought to be a law," or "I work for the government."
* you're aghast by 10 seconds of broadcast indecency, but slight pictures of war-dead children.
* you place fascism and communism (rather than anarchy and tyranny) on opposite sides of the scale.
* you assume that the common man is a liar, yet believe the common politician tells the truth.
* you are scared of the idea of consenting adults engaging in free trade; especially if they are not taxed.
* you are willing to punish those who have done no harm to others or pardon those that have.
* you label people "wacko," "paranoid," or "conspiratorial" for considering or expressing "cui bono?"
* you say "democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on dinner," then vote for bond issues.
* you think people should be limited to doing business with state-approved individuals and companies.
* you believe that warfare is more effective than free markets in promoting democracy or goodwill.
* you advocate private property rights, unless the owner is "open for business."
* you believe that as long as we can vote (for the tyrants of our choice), that we are free.
* you engage in thousands of ruler-less acts a day, but believe anarchy is bad.
* you think "our" team are heroes, and their's are villains, regardless of the situation.
* you want government to solve social problems, economic inequalities, or foreign imbalances.
* you are not aware that most regulations are in place to protect existing companies from competition.
* you vote for the politician who promises to provide (steal from the taxpayers) the most.
* you swear fidelity to a made-made idol, or wrap yourself in it to show others your nationalism.
* you've been seduced to believe that central planning and central parties are essential.
* you firmly believe in "thou shalt not kill or steal," unless performed by a government representative.
* you could solve poverty, crime, or ignorance, by taking just a little bit more from the wealthy.
* you expect others to compromise their principles, so that we can all just get along.
* you defer or submit to the authority of others, simple because of their titles or riches.
* you equate those desiring less government with those longing for the past, isolation, or less technology.
* you don't comprehend that public schools, public roads, and public welfare are all forms of socialism.
* you claim separation of church and state, then vote a tax on others to enforce your beliefs and values.
* you affirm that rights come from government or that groups have more rights than individuals.
* you are unprepared to defend or provide for yourself; you expect government to solve your problems.
* you threaten those who express an opposing opinion; violence is your preemptive solution.
* you have never read any articles posted on LewRockwell.com.
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* you have read the articles on lewrockwell.com, but write them off as too "left/right wing" without bothering to think about it for more than two seconds!
BTW, are there any philosophers/social scientists/etc out there who have a good detailed theory about why democracy leads to suckiness if given enough time? We need to debunk this "we can have a revolution through the ballot-box" myth, as I think it underpins a LOT of what the public puts up with/falsely belives is right/true.
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Lew Rockwell is not all sweetness and light, nor is he Libertarian purism himself. His writings on gay issues could have come from the pen of Pat Buchanan, Bill Buckley, or any other paleoconservative.
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* you have read the articles on lewrockwell.com, but write them off as too "left/right wing" without bothering to think about it for more than two seconds!
BTW, are there any philosophers/social scientists/etc out there who have a good detailed theory about why democracy leads to suckiness if given enough time? We need to debunk this "we can have a revolution through the ballot-box" myth, as I think it underpins a LOT of what the public puts up with/falsely belives is right/true.
Good and detailed? Nope, but I think the old saw about the majority voting themselves goodies would probably sum it up pretty well.
That's a bit simplistic, though, as a good salesperson can collect a good many votes just by playing the suckers. If the suckers outnumber free-thinking folks, the latter still lose.
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Yeah here comes the 'prisoner's dilemma' bit I can see it now. OMG collective action problem!!! We need to force people to do things for their own benefit now sorry...
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...you think liberty is "radical"
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most people these days do. It seems the term "freedom" was more easily corrupted, thus more people are familiar with the perverted non-definition of it.