Political discourse itself is enough to make even a person of moderate intelligence run away screaming. So much ignorance is on display, so much viciousness, so much ill-disguised envy and malevolence, such unscrupulous attempts to take what belongs to other people and redirect it to those who have no just right to it. The stupidity, therefore, is not only an inability to connect real causes and effects, but also moral stupidity, an inability to do what is obviously right and decent, as opposed to predatory and criminal, albeit legal.
Category: Against Leviathan
Moral Exculpation for an Action
One may obey “the law” out of prudence, in order to avoid the syndicate’s punishment of those who fail to comply with its dictates. But such prudential action is independent of morality and cannot serve as a surrogate for it.
The Delusion of a Win-Win Trade War
The foregoing considerations are only a few of the many that weigh against the initiation and continuation of a trade war. Trump says such wars are easy to win. In this regard, he apparently doesn’t even understand what winning means.
Obedience to The Law
One may obey “the law” out of prudence, in order to avoid the syndicate’s punishment of those who fail to comply with its dictates. But such prudential action is independent of morality and cannot serve as a surrogate for it.
Two-way Trade in the “Same” Commodity
Many strawberries are grown in Mexico and shipped to the USA for sale, as every American is probably aware. But strawberries are also grown in the USA and shipped to Mexico for sale. There is no contradiction or economic anomaly here.
Want to “Steal Back” a Job Now Held by an Immigrant Worker?
Do you hanker for a job putting roofs on houses in the hot summer sun, or cutting up carcasses (and your fingers) in a frigid meat or poultry packing plant, or doing manual labor on construction sites and roads in all kinds of weather… or mowing lawns and trimming foliage for homes and businesses?
They Love Their Chains
The great majority of the American people are oppressed and abused by their governments. But if you imagine that some group of revolutionaries undertook to overthrow these governments, it’s perfectly obvious that this same oppressed and abused portion of the people would overwhelmingly support and assist the merciless crushing of the revolt.
Dehumanization is the Order of the Day
The Nazis had their Untermenschen. Contemporary Republicans have their illegal immigrants. Contemporary progressives have their gun owners and users. Contemporary conservatives have their drug users and traffickers.
By Leaving People Alone
Questions: How will children be educated? How will people get health care? How will business fluctuations be prevented or moderated? How will people get personal security? How will people receive income when they can no longer work? How will the society’s distressed and disabled receive support and care?
The Public Face of the Rulers
They get up every morning and take a warm shower. They dress in clean business suits and ties. They speak — most of the time — in calm, measured, seemingly reasonable tones. They appear to be normal, respectable people.