Most societies, at least in this century, handle the problem of national defense by having a large, well-armed, permanent military force, run by a centralized government, funded by taxation, and often (though not always) manned by conscription. Is this a solution that a free nation can or should follow?
Tag: class
Negative Balance of Trade? So What?
Although the topic may appear daunting, the essence of the matter is utterly simple. As a fair approximation, each international transaction, whether it be buying, selling, borrowing, or lending across a national border involves a willing party on each side—importers want to purchase goods from sellers abroad, lenders want to lend to borrowers abroad, and so forth. Each party to the transactions expects to benefit by entering into it. In a sane and just world, that would be the end of the matter.
Start Opening Your Damn Eyes
There are only two things that can stop a “government” from becoming totalitarian: 1) a hard and fast, unbreakable “rule” that specifically and clearly limits what political “authority” may be used for; 2) the good graces and self-restraint of politicians. The problem is, neither of those exist in the real world.
The Bill of Rights is Worthless
The parasites count on the deterrent effect that comes from the threat of punishment to control people’s behavior, at least to some extent. Without a specific “or else” part, a “law” would just be a suggestion. “You’re not allowed to do that! But if you do, we’re not going to do anything to you anyway.” What would that deter? Nothing.
“Collective Punishment”
If the kinderprison teacher doesn’t know who is guilty of some offense (real or imagined) he’ll just punish the whole class. This is an extremely common practice in government schools and similar places. I think the lesson this teaches is different than the one authoritarians might imagine.
Disobedient Subjects
The primary threat to any ruling class is the possibility that some of its victims will disobey and resist. No, the CIA doesn’t give a crap about someone in a cave in Afghanistan.
Dealing with Princess Snowflake, a Government Employee
The woman sends home a list of math words, stripped of context, and defined with other words the kids probably don’t know. And my daughter has a much better vocabulary than most of her classmates, so if she has trouble understanding what is being said, I can only imagine the trouble other kids are having.
Pedants: Converting Good to Bad
Bureaucrats thrive on tidiness and regularity. The variations of real children are far too diverse and confusing for bureaucrats and pedants and certain economists. This zombie argument for the government provision of education should be nuked wherever it arises.
A Guide to the Basic Anxiety of Life
Underlying much of what we do is an uncertainty, an anxiety, a fear, doubts, dissatisfaction … And we react to these anxieties, dissatisfaction and uncertainty in so many unhelpful ways: we seek distraction, we eat unhealthy food, we procrastinate, we get caught in a cycle of anxiety and unhappiness, we lash out at others, we dwell in our loneliness, and then we get in denial about it all. If we could learn to deal with the basic anxiety of life, we would have much more ease and less struggle.
Cultural Osmosis
The enemy of reason is authority. People either believe something because reason tells them it is a true belief, or they believe it because some authority figure, whether it be a teacher, a parent, a priest or a politician, tells them it is so and they choose not to actively engage their reason in questioning the truth of what they are taught.