Welcome Lex. How do you feel about Ron Paul?
I don't really have a high opinion of Ron Paul, or the right-libertarian ideology as a whole. I appreciate their views, and their liking to freedom, but to think that the government should (and even could) be like it was back then is not based in reality. All governments inevitably expand, so if we were to have libertarians gain control, we'd see a short-lived libertarian state before it expands and becomes what it is today again. Rome went from republic, to dictatorship, to empire. Same with America, went from republic, now it's more of a representative democracy, and we'll see where we end up maybe within our lifetimes.
Welcome, new guy.
So... you don't believe in labels, or classify your opinions. What do you believe in?
Here are a few questions for you, to help us sort it out.
1. Choose one:
a. The government knows what's best for me
b. I know what's best for me
2. Choose one:
a. I own the fruits of my labors (income, intellectual property, etc.), and the government is entitled to the smallest amount necessary to perform its essential functions
b. The government owns the fruits of my labors, and is entitled to take as much as it wants.
3. Choose one:
a. The government is a benevolent force
b. The government is not a benevolent force
4. Name the most important natural right, in your opinion.
5. List, in descending order, the four most important amendments to the US Constitution, in your opinion:
a.
b.
c.
d.
6. Explain the reason you chose the most important amendment (a) in question 4.
7. Choose one:
a. From each according to his ability; to each according to his need.
b. Equality of opportunity does not guarantee equality of outcome.
c. Yes, we can!
d. Get off my lawn!
8. Name the greatest US president.
9. Choose one:
a. bacon
b. beer
c. pie
d. boobiez
These questions are a bit biased and objective. So I'll give my insight and answer the questions.
1. Choice BI myself am a responsible individual. I know what's best for myself, and my family. However, we must acknowledge that the state (i.e, government) is essentially the father figure of society. Like father, like son. Like government, like society. On the individual level, we are free individuals, and (at least some of us) know what's best for ourselves. On a collective level, it's a different story.
2. Choice BThe government does has the right to take some fruits of my labor, but they definitely do not have the right to a majority of it. Especially if I'm actually a wage worker rather than someone who sits in an office and has profit produced for them by the workers. I believe that when it comes to taxation they can spend wherever they want it, not just the bare essentials. Again, referring to the answer in question one. The government is like the father figure for society. What would a family be like if they just provided clothes, food, water, and shelter for their children, and had no parenting? It wouldn't be the healthiest family. We need taxes to spend on other things than just the bare basics.
3. Choice AGovernment is, overall, a benevolent force. On a case to case basis it certainly depends on the nature of the government and its leadership, but overall, definitely Choice A. Governments rose as a reaction to the primitive nature of man. Governments were established because the opposite was desired. They sought order in the midst of discord, they sought protection on the face of a violent world, and they sought a more stable society. Ultimately they made governments because they wanted certainty, they wanted to be certain that the next day they would have food, protection, shelter, etc., and governments facilitated the creation of culture, power of humanity, and made man the apex predator, the alpha males among alpha males. Look at us today, we are the goliaths now. This is why I see government as benevolent. It forged humanity's throne.
4. The right to liveNobody is entitled anything. Be lucky you are here because of billions of years of evolutionary success.
5.
a. 1
b. 6
c. 2
d. 91st Amendment is most important to me because that's essentially the barebones and basics. You have the right to an opinion, right to speak your mind (no matter how stupid your dumb*** may be), right to believe in whatever God/Gods/things you wish, etc.
6th is second on the list because because it definitely helps in a court of law that your trial is fair.
2nd is third on the list because I love guns.
9th is on the list because natural rights are cool.
6.Read question five, first amendment.
7. Choice N/AI don't really think any of those are really viable in my opinion. Though I would go somewhere between A and B, and yes, I know A was said by Marx but to say all of his ideas were bad is a bit ignorant. Even if you vehemently disagree with Marxism, a broken clock is at least right twice a day. If we're going to delve deeper into economics, I think you'd find your views contradicting mine a bit in certain areas.
8. No onePresidents are leaders, they lead the nation to greatness, but we must acknowledge they are only a cog in the national machine. Everybody else plays a part in the functions of this machine. Every man a cog, a bolt, a pulley, a motor, etc. I can certainly tell you who the worst are, but I can't tell you the best.
9. BoobiezOut of that whole list, boobiez are perhaps the most beneficial to my health out of all of those. Bacon will give me cholesterol, beer will kill my brain cells and give me cirrhosis, and pie will give me diabetes. Boobs give me the pleasures that I enjoy without giving me bad health problems in old age.
Anyway, hope this helps. Peace out.
