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Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Eugene — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:08:51 GMT

I'm not against political action if you use your own money for that. But living at the expense of the tax payers I think should be problematic for libertarians.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Austen — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:29:55 GMT

Okay, thank you!

hashem, watch this video to decide whether or not you want to go further into David Friedman's works.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

hashem — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:50:14 GMT

I don't like the idea of political activism, so I'd point out the false dichotomy. I respect people who build talent at expressing ideas in socially acceptable ways about the value of mutually voluntary exchange to people they can actually influence—friends, cooworkers, family, people they meet at various events, people within online communities. In that regard, I look up to Stefan Molyneux. He's spot on with the idea that you shouldn't back politicians but you should influence the people in your sphere, and more importantly he's outwardly a fine example of the kind of language and posture required to present sophisticated, outrageous ideas about peace to normal people. You could call me a decentralist in that context, that is, I support the idea of everyone acting in his own self interest over the idea that everyone should try to back one superhero who necessarily has to water his message down to some common denominator.

If someone's express purpose is to reduce government, great, so long as he doesn't blab about how such a goal is synonymous with liberty. I don't support minarchist politicians. As Molyneux has pointed out, small governments are the worst—and that's not even to mention the twisted ideology that such rhetoric plants in the minds of otherwise critically thinking people, the idea that limited government is a positive value.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Jargon — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:44:38 GMT

@ Hashem - What if their express purpose is reducing government? Also, do you like the Anarchist politician who does nothing for you, and has no audience with which to spread his ideas? Or the Minarchist politician who manages to reduce government and gains an audience to which he preaches truth?

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Anenome — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:19:42 GMT

square-bracket

view:

space

full youtube link

close bracket.

Hit 'quote' on this post and you can see how I've setup this video:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Austen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:42:52 GMT

How in the hell do you post a video on here? The typical embed doesn't work. The type of embed YouTube wants you to use doesn't work. Posting the regular URL doesn't work. How does one do it?!

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Austen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:27:19 GMT

Oddly enough, I've never checked out anything by David Friedman. I'll have to get into his stuff when I'm through with Dawkins and all the evolution stuff.

Check out this video to determine whether or not you'd like to go further by reading The Machinery of Freedom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2YfgKOnYx5A

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

SkepticalMetal — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:26:22 GMT

@ Hashem

As I said, would it not be fraud to state that you will defend the Constitution when you have anarchist intentions at heart?

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Malachi — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:18:31 GMT

I don't claim to think anyone like that would get elected,

must be a put-on. I already mentioned Ron Paul has been elected ten times.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Anenome — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:13:12 GMT

I'm gonna get into Friedman next with reservations, starting with Machinery of Freedom. He's kinda positioned himself as the counterpoint to Rothbardian libertarianism. But, Chicago school and utilitarian ethics...? Doubt he can convince me into those camps.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

hashem — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:56:51 GMT

Ya that was one of Molyneux's worst debates, I don't know what he was thinking the whole time.

Oddly enough, I've never checked out anything by David Friedman. I'll have to get into his stuff when I'm through with Dawkins and all the evolution stuff.

Could you explain what you mean here?

Sure. I was saying that I'm opposed to people running for office with the goal of limiting government, and based on the principle that limited government is valuable and a desirable end. But I'm not necessarily opposed to people running for office with the express intention of dismantling government based on the principles that government is wrong, impractical, and uneconomic—in other words reducing government as a means toward the end of abolishing it. I don't claim to think anyone like that would get elected, but I won't support anyone on other grounds.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Jargon — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:40:31 GMT

hashem:

not because less government is better, but because government is wrong, impractical, and uneconomic.

Could you explain what you mean here?

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

Jargon — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:39:34 GMT

Molyneux's eloquent and intelligent for sure. But usually his arguments only work insofar as you let yourself be continually pigeon-holed by his narrow morality. For instance, with his Sam Seder debate he should have been stronger on economic points like social security. I know Uncle Milty was awesome at selling state-free-market capitalism, I wonder if his son is awesome at selling stateless capitalism.

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

SkepticalMetal — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:30:25 GMT

But would it not be fraud when they swear to protect and defend the Constitution yadayadayada?

Re: Free State Project to win seats in New Hampshire

hashem — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:27:20 GMT

Ya libertarians are ridiculous because they claim to want liberty and run for office to limit government. I'm not against someone who's an outspoken anarchist running for office on anarchist principles—that he will do everything in his power to dismantle as much government as possible, not because less government is better, but because government is wrong, impractical, and uneconomic.