Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Unposter]

Daskalos,

I understand the frustration but you do not have to resort to name calling and platitudes.

While I have my doubts that VisitorQ is open minded enough to see anything beyond his own idealistic vision of the world, if you are going to play the game, you have to believe there is a chance. Now, I understand that he thinks you think the same way - that you are just as blind to your ideas as he is to his and he cannot see how your ideas have evolved and changed over time and that some of us really are open minded and want to understand what is best way to deal with the realities of the world.

There are a few inconsistancies to what VisitorQ and what I assume is a libertarian point of view. From the top of my head here are a few:

The first is that they attack government as not just ineffective but the root of all evil yet they say government, admittedly limited government, is a necessary. They adamant they are not anarchists. This is not a logical consistancy. If government (limited government) is necessary than it can be effective and it is not the root of all evil. It is all about making government effective and more in line with the interests of the entire community and not just the economic elite.

The second inconsistancy is that they say taxes are theft but if they are to have government and the government is to do something than taxes are necessary and a social obligation and not theft. The only way you can say taxes is theft is to eliminate all government. Now, are taxes fair? That depends on the system not the concept.

The third inconsistancy is the utopian belief that: A) free markets are possible B) that a free market will eliminate all the bad behavior of people. Companies won't pollute and damage other people's property; People will be treated fairly by businesses; businesses won't use fraud; people will not use wepons to get other people to do what they want them to do and a host of other crimes that history tells us people do occasionally do and that we need government, laws and regulations to protect us from other people's bad behavior (and even wrong decisions).

The fourth inconsistancy is that other countries and other people will behave well (if there are free markets) and that wars will be unnecessary (I wish that they were right). I certainly don't want imperialist wars but wars of defence may be necessary.

Now, there are some things that I like about the libertarian position and while I think other ways of thinking encompass these ideas, if they don't they should.

I think the Libertarian support for civil liberties is highly commendable and I think our current government (U.S.) doesn't do a good enough job on it.

I think the Libertarian critique of the current government (not just Obama but the U.S. government in general including Obama's) is pretty accurate and I think that is part of the allure of the Libertarian argument. Special interests, especially wealthy, well-connected special interests use the government (whether Republican or Democrat) for their own enrichment and needs and that most people are not getting a fair return on their tax dollars.

Now, I am not one to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Government can be saved; government must be saved because anarchy is not a real option (I don't think it can exist except for short periods of time). People need to reclaim their government.

For me, the problem is an amazing lack of leadership. There don't seem to be any leaders out there who seem capable of doing it. And, maybe, it is going to have to be a grassroots thing, starting in our communities and working our way back to (yes, the very necessary) federal government.

Ultimately, VisitorQ is a dreamer. Some of his dream is pretty nice. Others, I just don't get. And, other parts just don't jive with the reality on the ground.

Anyway, good luck to everyone. Life is never easy but it does not have to be miserable either. Enjoy. Vote. Beleive there is still much life to the Republic. 24 hour news may make it seem like we are on the verge of total disaster but the world hasn't ended yet and it probably won't tomorrow or the next day or the next day.

[visitorq]

[visitorq]

[visitorq]

[daskalos]

[daskalos]

[visitorq]

[johnnyenglishteacher2]

[Enrico Palazzo]

[Enrico Palazzo]