So I just came across this What be ya'll thoughts on government? I'm assuming most of you righties want it to be tiny, but as a Belgian I can't really picture this? Hows them work? Just curious whatcha'll be thinking
I've said it before, an I'll say it again. I like Bernie. Edit: As I watch past the first half. I like the video guy too. Good share.
I think the government can enrich people's existence. I think the best socialist policies open up opportunities to experience things for everybody. It's not about handouts, it's about free museums and quality education. I'll maybe expand later.
Personally things that everyone needs should be provided by the government in an efficient manner. Everyone needs a certain amount of education. Everyone needs health care. I have no problem with the government taking over those. As far as the US goes, I am more democrat than republican when it comes to social issues, but more republican than democrat when it comes to fiscal issues. As far as subsidies, as mentioned in the video, they should not exist. Subsidies go against the free market. Another part of what I consider a small government is that they should not deny permission to people for things that aren't harmful. It should not be up to the government who you marry, which is still a problem in the US even after SCOTUS gave their decision.
As someone who is not right or left but only concerned with being correct on the issues. I know of all the death and destruction on earth the vast majority is caused by governments, so I always eye it cautiously, I read a lot of history. As soon as someone wants to rule over someone else, you have problems. Counting on the government is foolishness to me as is counting on almost anything, as soon as people "need" government the government owns them. I see that as weakness and one thing nature has showed me over and over, the weak get killed and eaten. One thing that can be verified through science, anywhere you have a large amount of people, you have a large amount of A-holes.
I love dozens of Cheryl Crow songs. Amor. This one represents my preference of individualism and lean gvt: And this one represents chaos and/or tyranny: Questions? Thoughts? (I love both songs btw, but visuals are evocative too).
Government is like fire; it is an extremely dangerous tool. As ssez pointed the history of governance is generally not a happy one. By and large the US is an exception only because it has been kept in line from being too big or intrusive in people's daily lives. Having said that, I don't like the over all trend in the last 50 or so years. The key is to keep government in the balanced center; strong enough to keep people from screwing each other over while small enough to keep from screwing the people over. That is what our Founders were trying to achieve and frankly no one has done it better or come up with a better solution.
Government is simply people coming together for the common good. Can it be abused? Yes. Is it inherently evil? No. By and large, societies with well established governments with elected officials function better than those without such governments. In general, human progress is correlated with the emergence of centralized governance. Government doesn't exist in spite of people, it exists because of, and for, the people. Just as guns don't kill people, but people kill people, governments aren't evil and corrupt in of themselves.
Don't think anyone said they were evil and corrupt of themselves, as you state they are just human groups, like businesses. Although many governments exist in spite of its people, hence tyrants, And they don't exist because of all people, only the ones who want it. What piece of land can you go to that no one rules over and you can do whatever you want ? If you have no choice, tis really no choice at all.
Tangent, perhaps, but I am actually against private ownership of land. As I have said before, my views are pretty much unrepresented by the parties in power in the US.
Based on the rhetoric by some people here and others I know, it seems at least some believe that government is bad by definition. But I wasn't responding to anyone specifically. I don't think being able to do whatever you want is a fundamental right. We live on the planet with other people, other beings, and almost no matter what you do, anywhere, even if it's legal by human standards, has ramifications for others, human or otherwise, now or in the future. (Another tangent, I don't really believe in free will either.)
So no matter what that person has to live under government control, sounds kinda like a tyrant to me.
I think that the planet is our common heritage and belongs to all people and creatures and shouldn't be owned by any individual or group. If this is the definition of tyranny, then sign me up.
Fundamental rights are a man made construct that is basically just made up things, so anyone can dream up any fundamental right they want, Like cova yo women! History is full of examples of fundamental rights changing. And I get where you are coming, because yea we shouldn't kill each other etc its pretty basic, but it still happens, and you wont get people to agree on the fundamentals. If someone wants to live in a society that dictates the women all be covered, I am all for it. I don't want to impose my will on what they want.
So much of it is cultural too that I don't think the idea that there's one type of government/position that fits all makes sense. Maybe in the US a "balanced center" (whatever that means) works, but it probably doesn't work for now and all time. And I fully being that systems that are more left and more right would work in various situations/societies. Government should be reflective of the culture and needs of its people, and these change over time, so I never quite agree with appeals to "founding fathers" or approaches that suggest government should always be X or Y. Obviously, dictatorships and the like where one person/group's views are being pushed onto a population without representation is another story altogether - as I said, I am talking about representative government.
I think it belongs to no one. Its a planet and no one really owns it, they just made claim to it and killed people for it. Its like hey you killed enough people and staked claim to this even though it may not be right but I will live under that now since you won. And watch out with this - "so I never quite agree with appeals to "founding fathers" or approaches that suggest government should always be X or Y." the government might consider you someone who does not respect the government and its laws. There are lots out there that don't agree the government should be X or Y and they often get put on watch lists, or much worse depending on what country you are in. Basically to me If you cant go somewhere and be free of government you are never free, you are born into a society that forces you to live under their beliefs and live under their laws even though you may not agree with them or even when their actions could get you killed. Sounds like slavery to me.
Yes, you are never "free" in this sense. You are always within the bounds of the circumstances in which you are born and live. This doesn't matter whether there is government or not. It's simply true. Even if you go to Uninhabited Planet X where there is no government, you are still bound by your genetics, your experiences, the resources available there, etc. And whatever you do there will affect anything else that is there, and it will also affect anyone who arrives there after you are gone, etc. It's all connected, you are never "free" from all associations.
I don't see how this applies. My point is I don't understand when people say "government should function like this forever because founding father said X or Y" because I think a government that evolves makes more sense - and in reality this is actually what happens.
