Stated in terms as broad as that, there seems to have been a general consensus to that effect throughout American (and British) history.
So…when the government infringes on your “right” to sell adulterated food to protect people from being made ill or dead, is that wrong?
Sounds like Objectivism, and there has never been a general consensus for that in American history, and we have the most economic-libertarian political culture in the world.
Oh yes everyone is flocking to Cuba and Canada in droves.
Are you fucking kidding me? As a human being I have a moral obligation not to harm or interfere with others rights. Thats it. Poverty is NOT my fault. You have bought into stereotypical liberal self hatred.
[shrug] Still be better than what we’ve got now, as any Canadian can tell you. (I realize Sam Stone would beg to differ, but he represents a definite minority POV in his country on that and practically everything else.)
Same thing that was wrong with it during the Cold War when Reagan pushed it; it just makes both sides’ trigger fingers itchier. With Mutually Assured Destruction I don’t dare launch a missile at you, but if I think you think you can survive a war, I’d damned well better strike first, etc.
You have hit the nail on the head.
And I am not looking for consensus. I am looking towards what is moral and just.
As Mark Twain pointed out, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Better keep looking. You won’t find it in Objectivism.
But you are! And not only are you in the majority, you’re in a permanent majority! Rejoice, brother, and tell them niggers and hippies how pathetic they are!
-Joe
Bear in mind that for every Galileo, there are at least a hundred Timecube Guys.
There is deep moral statement in Objectivism, it is the moral statement of a toddler than seizes the fire truck from his brother and screams “Mine!”
Yes, because EVERYONE is stupid, now and then.
First, at no point have I expressed self hatred.
Second, you have a moral obligation to help out those less fortunate, especially if you profit from their poverty, which you do.
Third, widespread poverty is bad for society, and doing nothing about it is stupid.
Of course, stupidity and evil are core right wing values. The most important difference between Right and Left is that the Right is so relentlessly wrong. Morally, factually, practically wrong, nearly without exception. The left can be wrong too, but it’s not as obsessive about it.
No, you are just looking for an excuse to be a predator, a parasite, and probably a sadist and pat yourself on the back for moral righteousness at the same time.
It seems to me that this very real impulse is what is going to speed Obama into office on a wave of middle fingers. I don’t think it’s all necessarily logical, but it appears to be working with me for once, so I will be over here in the corner, staying verrrry still.
Objectivism only makes sense if you are doing better than most people and you attribute that entirely to your awesomeness instead of some combination of your awesomeness and the luck of the draw.
The law, passed by Congress, which you elected. Or are you whining that because your candidate wasn’t elected, you aren’t represented?
The law says it is not yours, not all of it anyway. We do not recognize divine rights.
What missiles are you talking about?
Exactly. One thing I’ve noticed about people like this; nothing is ever due to chance. If misfortune strikes, it’s YOUR fault, always.
I think that’s why so many of the crazy militia/libertarian types tend to also believe in anti Semitic and racial conspiracy theories. If they aren’t doing well, their political philosophy doesn’t let them attribute it to bad luck, and their ego doesnt let them attribute it to their own failings. So, it must be THEM. The evil liberal-Jewish-gay-Soviet-Illuminati cabal that’s keeping them down.
I wish all the little selfish fuckers like this guy would just move to Mexico, where they have exactly the government they hold up as so ideal. Where the corrupt government does jack shit for its citizens, so the rich get richer and richer off the backs of the poor who live in shacks they’ve built out of shipping pallets and plastic garbage bags, and there is no middle class as a result. You know, the country that millions and millions of poverty-stricken people are willing to risk life and limb to escape from, to get to America where they at least stand half a chance not to fucking starve. Selfish little pricks like this guy don’t deserve the government we have, let alone the one we’re trying to give them.
And the missile defense thing, too- objectivist-ly, if someone tries to shoot a missile at you, isn’t it your problem and your problem alone? Why is the government taking my money to protect you from enemy missiles when I clearly could care less if you got hit by a missile? I’ll just move somewhere where missiles are unlikely to be targeted.
Individuals and condo associations should put up their own missile defense shields.
Him.
You know Sampiro, I was thinking the very same thing.
They’ve been trying to make this country like that for the last seven and a half years.
Really? Oddly enough, my mail delivery is swift and reliable. And I seem to recall there were balanced budgets under the last Democratic President.
But don’t let a little thing like facts get in your way.
I’m continually amazed that I can get a letter across the country, reliably, in just a few days, for less than half a buck. Our postal system kicks ass.