Subject: Re: [drugwar] (OT) screwing each other
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 19:07:00 -0400
To:        <drugwar@mindvox.com>
From:     Bob Armstrong <bob@cosy.com>
On Sat, 4 Oct 2003 17:12:34 EDT, SherriTheWriter@aol.com wrote:
> Screwing other people's lives is an American tradition and the=
 foundation of unrestrained capitalism.

 I believe human inclinations and behaviors are universal and=
 not
 unique to America or else where . Nor are they unique to either=
 
 the free market class or the political class .

 Whether you see the dominant drive screwing others or=
 cooperating
 with them , is I feel a matter of emphasis .

 I keep emphasising , the only difference is freedom to choose=
 your
 partners or subjection to your local geographic monopoly of
 force . ( is being screwed by the State , rape ? )

 It is clear from history that the monopoly , socialist ,=
 structure
 fails to produce the wealth , for poor as well rich , that free=
 
 market choice produces . With all the supposed horrors of
 industrialization , you have to ask why people chose to move to
 the cities and take such awful jobs rather than stay home on=
 the
 farm . 

> we continue through today, where the average person -- and the=
 average person is not middle-class -- works desperately hard to=
 just barely achieve a minimal standard of living. Look at the=
 schools and health care systems lower income people must contend=
 with...

 When you consider that 15.5% of your paycheck is taken before=
 you see it
 so you will get ( currently ) max $1500 per month when you=
 retire , and
 the total taken for one thing or another , including "freeing"=
 Iraq , and
 criminalizing US , is closer to half , it does leave you with a=
 lot less to
 spend on your current needs for the best choices you may find .

 Of course schools and health care are the 2 most socialized=
 segments of our
 economy , so your beneficent State seems to be failing . 

> Perhaps my thinking is a bit clouded at this moment by the pure=
 agony of the $1500 root canal my uninsured self needs,

 Ouch .  Your dentist must be a selfish bastard for screwing you=
 like that .
 Note that insurance of highly likely events isn't really=
 insurance , and it
 doesn't make anything cheaper ; it just spreads the payments .
 
> Nanny Socialism??

 Does that refer to a system that would ensure that the basic=
 necessities of life - education and healthcare - are available=
 to all?

 This is classic economic socialism which made such basket cases=
 out
 of the USSR and Eastern Europe and every other place that tried=
 it .

> Does that refer to a system in which, instead of spending=
 billions on bombs and war,

 These are core enterprises of the State monopoly .

> we strive to bring an end to homelessness, hunger and poverty?

 Best way to do that is to go into business producing homes or=
 food .

 Creating a bureaucracy to take from those who do produce things=
 
 and redistribute their resources is at best just rearranging=
 deck
 chairs .

> What, please, if you have a moment, does Nanny Socialism mean=
 to you? 

 I've coined "Nanny Socialism" to differentiate the attacks on=
 our
 personal "lifestyle" freedoms from the classic economic=
 socialism 
 while emphasizing their common theme of use of force by the=
 political
 class .
 Nanny Socialism generally corresponds to the left , "personal"=
 side
 of the Nolan chart ( http://www.self-gov.org/ ) measuring 
 Authoritarian / Libertarian political beliefs .

--=A0
=A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864
Return our Right to Relax :
=A0http://ny.lp.org/cgi-bin/petition.cgi?Against_the_Smoking_Ban
Liberty : http://CoSy.com/Liberty.htm
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/10/04 5:49:39 PM