Comments on: Parentalism

By: Steve Verdon

Steve Verdon — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 04:15:17 +0000

RJN,

Screw Kurzweil that notion is older than that dude, try Benito Mussolini.

"We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the individual must become."

Benito Mussolini-- quoted in The Road to Serfdom, chapter 4.

By: RJN

RJN — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 03:45:00 +0000

That last post did not come out right. Sorry, too snide.

The point is that we do need some government, and a modern society needs more than our old agrarian, and early industrial society needed. Productivity in both the industrial and agricultural components of our economy has greatly advanced, and has much more growth to come.

Ray Kurzweil is right about the accelerating pace of technology, as he states in his book 'The Singularity is Near'.

Modern States, whether they know it or not, are going to need wealth distribution systems of some sort as the future unfolds. The Social Security system that we have is almost right. It is a fair and sensible way to begin a system of wealth distribution; start with the old folks who worked and built the advances, etc. They trickle it down to their kids, and are not on the back of their kids as dependents.

As the decades go by experience will offer up more opportunities to share the wealth that our history has sent down to us.

Pie in the sky? Some sure; the polititians will try to screw it up. The great war will sidetrack us for awhile, but then the sun will shine again.

By: RJN

RJN — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 00:53:48 +0000

While we are at it we can take the government out of supplying water, or removing sewage, or certifying food producers. If some people donâ��t deal with their sewage, and their yards stink, and their children are diseased, so what?

By: bryan

bryan — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 23:48:36 +0000

I think you've hit upon something that becomes evident when we look at the situation in France, or even Detroit. Many people want to have security more than they want ultimate liberty. Why? Because security (in jobs, for instance) means there are fewer "huge" dangers around the corner, and they can enjoy what might be called "small scale" liberty - the liberty to buy a boat and sit in their back yard drinking beer on their days off. Sure, there are trade-offs. Their job mobility is less, and their overall lives may seem bleak to an enlightened intellectual. But they accept that tradeoff. These are not always the people who would go to Vegas to gamble their entire life savings, but people who place their bets on a stable, well-paying job and a small house in the suburbs. What used to be the "American dream." I know these people, because I grew up with parents who are among their number. I'm not sure everyone is looking to government to give this to them, but it does seem that government is the last place that offers this type of cradle-to-grave security.

By: floyd

floyd — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:34 +0000

steve; WOW, that has to be the most profound thing you ever wrote; and with great quotes, thanks, and don't let my agreement give you second thoughts[lol]

By: Steve Verdon

Steve Verdon — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:45:14 +0000

jpe,

The point is that we are seeing a movement towards less choice, not more. Eventually you wont be able to go to Vegas either. Just as there are people who don't want others eating fatty foods, drinking alcohol, taking illegal narcotics, etc.

Further, mitigating the impact of stupid choices means that people will be more likely to go with the stupid choices.

By: jpe

jpe — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:22:16 +0000

If a man wants to be foolish enough to take his life savings to Las Vegas and risk it all on a roll of the dice...

That person can, but there will be some kind of safety net to provide for the idiot if the wheel hits 00. IOW, what we currently seem to have is a system that mitigates the harsh consequences of stupid action. I don't see how that turns us into pets so long as we still retain the freedom to make those poor choices in the first place.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:30:49 +0000

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."

Mahatma Gandhi

By: LJD

LJD — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:17:24 +0000

Not to mention that a nation of frugal consumers should recognize that they only get pennies on the dollar for services purchased by the government, when they can get the same or better 'on sale' in a competitive market.