In response to this recent post and this recent comment, both regarding the state's role in protecting fetal humans (short version: the only thing I want the Washington regime to do to make the world a better place is go to hell), I've received the following comments asking me if I am an anarchist:
Answer:
No, I'm not a full out anarchist. Barack Obama is.
I believe in government. I govern myself and my actions every day. As part of that government, I associate with people who govern themselves in an orderly and lawful manner. I do not associate with lawless, disordered individuals. At least not unless they force me to.
I would say the one lawless interaction I am forced to engage in which really sticks out in my mind is the payment of my federal income taxes, which I do only because I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if I don't, the lawless crime syndicate known as the Washington regime will begin to harass me, then intimidate me, then harass and intimidate the financial institutions I do business with into freezing my accounts, and may eventually send an armed gang whose salary I pay only because I'm afraid to kidnap me and lock me in a cage.
My other interactions, however, are orderly and motivated not by fear and threats, but by love and enticements. When I give my money to a grocery store, it's because I love the quality, diversity, and price of their products. I love how those products support and enhance my life.
Reread that second definition of anarchy. Fast and Furious? Summary execution by drone? Warrantless spying? Warrantless searches in airports? Taking money by force from frightened Americans to give to foreign governments that sponsor terrorism and to foreign rebels supported by known terrorists? Lawlessness and political disorder due to the absense of governmental authority, all of it.
Obama and his supporters are the ones who don't believe in law, order, or government. They believe in power and the projection and consolidation of power in the hands of an elite few, the world's most prolific anarchists.
Me? I'm just a humble libertarian.
Paul: Does this mean you've become a full out anarchist?
March Hare: W. E. You have completely lost the plot here - unless you're going anarchist on us.
There have been over 1 million abortions per year since 1973, if the role of government is to enforce the rights of people, and foetuses count as people, then it would be right and proper for the government to get seriously involved in [stopping] abortion. And, yes, forcing the rest of us to pay for said enforcement.
Fortunately my own thoughts on the subject are not subject to anger with the current government and don't fall into the slippery slope fallacy (which isn't a fallacy!) that yours does about the proper role of government.
If you want to abandon the idea of government/state as the monopoly on force (anarchy) that's fine, I look forward to an article on the outsourcing of force or security to a body voluntarily, but that's not what I've seen in your writing thus far.
Answer:
No, I'm not a full out anarchist. Barack Obama is.
an·ar·chy
1. absence of government
2. a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
I believe in government. I govern myself and my actions every day. As part of that government, I associate with people who govern themselves in an orderly and lawful manner. I do not associate with lawless, disordered individuals. At least not unless they force me to.
I would say the one lawless interaction I am forced to engage in which really sticks out in my mind is the payment of my federal income taxes, which I do only because I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if I don't, the lawless crime syndicate known as the Washington regime will begin to harass me, then intimidate me, then harass and intimidate the financial institutions I do business with into freezing my accounts, and may eventually send an armed gang whose salary I pay only because I'm afraid to kidnap me and lock me in a cage.
My other interactions, however, are orderly and motivated not by fear and threats, but by love and enticements. When I give my money to a grocery store, it's because I love the quality, diversity, and price of their products. I love how those products support and enhance my life.
Reread that second definition of anarchy. Fast and Furious? Summary execution by drone? Warrantless spying? Warrantless searches in airports? Taking money by force from frightened Americans to give to foreign governments that sponsor terrorism and to foreign rebels supported by known terrorists? Lawlessness and political disorder due to the absense of governmental authority, all of it.
Obama and his supporters are the ones who don't believe in law, order, or government. They believe in power and the projection and consolidation of power in the hands of an elite few, the world's most prolific anarchists.
Me? I'm just a humble libertarian.
