DR1ers and their Politics

[GringoCArlos]

Statists. (and no, that's not a compliment)

So, if we can't rely on people to do what they should do or want to do, then the only logical solution is a bigger, broader, more codified, government with bigger and broader funding each year. Only if you are a Peleidista, Pereidista, reformista, Communist, Socialist, Republican or Democrat.

Any government's job is NOT to create jobs to get the country out of its mess. Another government job is just another black hole, further sucking the life out of the country and its budget. Government jobs are NOT productive - they do not create more wealth then they spend to do the job.

If the Dominican government really wants to get out of this mess, take the good Padre's advice for a start, and eliminate the departments he suggested yesterday, as a beginning. So Sr Amable really needs a helicopter to fly around the Republica passing out money to the municipalities, so they can do their jobs locally. What balls, man!

Get rid of him and his cronies, and the whole Municipal League. Why do we need a middleman to receive and then pass out the money, unless its' sole purpose is to extract 10% or so in the process. For a friggin helicopter?

Sorry, Sr Cibernetica / Don Export, (I know that you read DR1 constantly) but if the Dominican government really wants to grow Exports, then get rid of your department too. The only thing CEDOPEX does it to get in the way and to extract fees from folks wanting to actually get someone in another country to send their wealth here to La Republica for the products we want to send them.

Why?? To keep a huge payroll going, and an empty huacal that could be rented out to someone for real money? The last time I was there, there were exactly 8 people in the entire building, and no, the employees weren't out pounding the pavement to sell my products to another country. Vete coño.

Same with the police. Get rid of all of them, and use a private security force. If they want something in the street, or commit crimes, or want to serve as some idiot's private security guard instead, fire them and find someone else. Same with the so-called "generals".

Sorry, it's time to take my meds again. And I want to think some more about concubines and Shakira, instead of Leonel and Dubya's messes.

[RHM]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

Every great idea is based on a fundamental premise. For Libertarians, the underlying premise for their philosophy is that man is rational.

Unfortunately, that premise is false. Men are not rational. That is why Libertarianism and Objectivism, unfortunately, don't work.

Libertarianism is not based on the assumption that man is rational. But it is based on the concept of personal responsibility and privacy.

Scandall

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Scandall

Libertarianism is not based on the assumption that man is rational. But it is based on the concept of personal responsibility and privacy.

Scandall

You swerved into the truth of my comment.

Personal responsibility and privacy are rational concepts. The weak minded (the non-rational) shun personal responsibility. And the world is populated prolly 90% by those who do not want to be personally responsible for themselves. They want someone else or ~government~ to be responsible for them.

Enforced social transfer payments ("tax the rich/government programs for the poor") is a perfect example of not being rersponsible for ones self.

Statism/socialism/liberalism and personal responsibility are on opposite ends of the same spectrum.

Scandall-how did you score on the political test I linked?

[Chris]

What would be an equivalent 'label' for liberarianism in countries outside the US or Canada? Is this term even used outside of North America?

[RHM]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

You swerved into the truth of my comment.

Personal responsibility and privacy are rational concepts. The weak minded (the non-rational) shun personal responsibility. And the world is populated prolly 90% by those who do not want to be personally responsible for themselves. They want someone else or ~government~ to be responsible for them.

Enforced social transfer payments ("tax the rich/government programs for the poor") is a perfect example of not being rersponsible for ones self.

Statism/socialism/liberalism and personal responsibility are on opposite ends of the same spectrum.

Scandall-how did you score on the political test I linked?

I took that test for the first time many moons ago and didn't bother taking it again as I know my own political beliefs pretty well. I have been a registered Democrat and Republican. Then I was independent for several years and finally ended up as a registered Libertarian. I do not support the entire platform but I do support the general foundation of the party.

I have to continue to part ways with you on the "rational actor" assumption. Most libertarians could care less how other people act, they just want to be left alone to do their own thing. Just my two pesos. Opinions vary.

Scandall

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

Scandall-how did you score on the political test I linked?

I missed that - was it the political compass (or something like that)?

Originally Posted by Chris

What would be an equivalent 'label' for liberarianism in countries outside the US or Canada? Is this term even used outside of North America?

It's "libertarianism" and it is a definition used in UK politics. As well as being in favour of reducing the state in the UK itself they are also very much against the European Union. There is more overlap with Conservatives with anything else.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Scandall

I have to continue to part ways with you on the "rational actor" assumption. Most libertarians could care less how other people act, they just want to be left alone to do their own thing. Just my two pesos. Opinions vary.

Scandall

No need to part ways. We continue to agree.

I am a Libertarian, and act that way, as much as practical, in my personal sphere of influence. But I am a self-sufficient, rational person.

But Libertarianism as a government philosophy has no future. Too many folks depend on the government teat for their existance.

I'm a big fan of the deceased Harry Browne, a mainstream Libertarian who ran for president in 1996 and 2000 (I was the County Chairman for his campaign). He wrote an excellent book on the topic of personal Libertarianism, and how to effectively function within the governmental system: How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. His book, Why Government Doesn't Work, is an excellent read also.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

I missed that - was it the political compass (or something like that)?

Try this: Click Here-->World's Smallest Political Quiz.

[Chirimoya]

Thanks.
Same principle as the political compass quiz, but simplified.

[RHM]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

No need to part ways. We continue to agree.

I am a Libertarian, and act that way, as much as practical, in my personal sphere of influence. But I am a self-sufficient, rational person.

But Libertarianism as a government philosophy has no future. Too many folks depend on the government teat for their existance.

I'm a big fan of the deceased Harry Browne, a mainstream Libertarian who ran for president in 1996 and 2000 (I was the County Chairman for his campaign). He wrote an excellent book on the topic of personal Libertarianism, and how to effectively function within the governmental system: How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. His book, Why Government Doesn't Work, is an excellent read also.

I was a big fan of Browne too. He wrote several great books on American Libertarian thought that had me nodding my head in agreement as I read them. That was when I joined the Libertarian Party. Its platform is far from perfect but I agree with most of it.

Scandall