Re: OT Gas Prices and the Blame Game


"Richard The Dreaded Libertarian" <null@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2008.05.29.17.48.21.738050@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Wed, 28 May 2008 22:45:08 -0400, Paul E. Schoen wrote:
"Richard The Dreaded Libertarian" <null@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
On Wed, 28 May 2008 05:59:57 +0100, Eeyore wrote:

Catastrophist. I'm sure Hollywood could make a film about it. People
seem to
like being scared. I suppose the IPCC is trading on that too.

People are already scared - most people are walking around in a state
of
abject terror - finding something to blame comforts them, even if it
has
no factual basis.

It's good that people are scared. It will probably take that to make
them
do something good about the environment. Even if GW is a hoax, or if it
is
beyond our control, energy conservation, recycling, and other measures
are
a "good thing". And strong action is needed if only for economic
reasons.
"Business as usual" is going bankrupt.

Here's the rub - this is the most insidious, and dangerous thing about
the
GW true believers - they're advocating massive government mandates, which
are, in fact, anti-American.

Freedom is Good - Mandates are Bad.

But, if you don't like Freedom, then pick a slave master. But even then,
you can't escape Freedom, because _you_ are the one who decides which
master to subjugate yourself to.

The problem is that many people want to "ban" things they see as bad,
whether for the environment or personal health. Inasmuch as environmental
insults damage and deplete our collective natural resources, we as a people
are justified in levying taxes to limit unreasonable waste, and rebates or
other measures to reward conservation. And likewise, activities such as
drug abuse, prostitution, and gambling should be decriminalized to
eliminate the profits from underground activity, but taxed or regulated so
that the government (we the people) will have the resources to provide
humane treatment to those who damage themselves from such things.

Perhaps there should be a way to "opt out" of any sort of governmental
benefits, such as the Amish. But as long as we decide to provide (and be
eligible for) public schools, police and fire protection, public works
projects, welfare, public assistance, unemployment benefits, bankruptcy
protection, social security, Medicare, etc, we must pay for it as equitably
as possible.

But I agree that mandates are anti-American. Most of our problems can be
solved by economics and free enterprise, as long as there is no abuse of
publicly owned resources (and I consider these to include mineral rights,
oil and gas rights, and water rights).

Paul


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT Gas Prices and the Blame Game
    ... Freedom is Good - Mandates are Bad. ... But, if you don't like Freedom, then pick a slave master. ... insults damage and deplete our collective natural resources, ... oil and gas rights, and water rights). ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: What are human rights, and where do they come from?
    ... 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted ... and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text ... inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation ... advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)
  • Re: Historical comparisons
    ... Your 'wrongful violation of others' rights' so-called derives ... lol. ... Government's don't generally own natural resources, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: trey can go fvuck his mother
    ... so climb capital hill in good ole Washington DC to further Treys main ... because he has already had his rights fought for and won. ... own born into freedom, choice of religion, pursuit of happiness those ... are the inailiable rights that a freedom fighter possess. ...
    (rec.music.phish)
  • Rush & Rushs Are Hypocrites, Was: Re: Bellyaching
    ... support his liberty and rights to bodily integrity just as much as I ... I'm saying they have a right to bodily integrity...to not having their ... And, a legally found junkie. ... See " Freedom Of Speech ". ...
    (soc.men)