Human beings are the most benighted of the blighted. Like a bird that beats its own brains out against a window that reflects the sky, we know we are going wrong but we cannot stop.
Tag: government
On Government Parasitism II
Government supporters will tell you that without the state making it possible for markets to function safely, we would all be worse off. One must wonder where the the state gets the resources it requires to effectively “regulate” markets.
Common Ground with Putin?
Putin wants to “control” rap in Russia. This seems to indicate he doesn’t like rap and believes it has a negative effect on young people. I agree with him on both, even as I disagree that government should get involved (in anything).
China—Americans’ Economic Bugaboo du Jour
An economy shaped and guided by government bureaucrats and Communist bigwigs by means of tariffs, subsidies, state-controlled credit, and state-owned industries cannot be a real growth miracle for long. This too shall pass.
Politics Doesn’t Improve Your Life
Life is needlessly complicated when you believe you need to control other people, since they’ll believe they should control you, too. You’ll probably both take the shortcut of electing someone to do the controlling for you, but the results are the same, if not worse.
The Strangest Loyalty Oath You Probably Never Heard Of
Two companies or contractors, one from Israel and one not, bid on a job. When the Israeli company doesn’t get the job, it complains that prejudice against Israel, rather than “ordinary business purposes,” motivated the decision. Contractors who do business with governments requiring such loyalty oaths are likely to bend over backward to avoid such complaints.
On Voluntaryists
There’s a simple trick to tell if someone is a voluntaryist or not based on the solutions they offer to socio-economic problems: do they advocate for more government control over peaceful people, or less?
“How Do You Talk to Someone Who Doesn’t Believe in Climate Change?”
The best way to “talk” to someone who “doesn’t believe in climate change” is … don’t. Stay quiet. But if you can’t mind your own business, and you ignorantly (and unwisely) broach the subject, maybe you could at least listen to the reasons why they aren’t in your cult.
Wilson vs The Forest Circus
I first met “Wilson” soon after he moved to the area. He told me he moved because he had lost his business. Personally, I think his business was stolen from him by the mafia Wilson always referred to as the “Forest Circus”. These were the clowns who controlled (and rationed) the license which “allowed” Wilson to conduct his business.
Choosing Slavery – A Bewildering Choice
Choosing slavery seems to be the choice to kill off your liberty, just like suicide is the choice to kill your own body. Yet I am less uncomfortable with the choice to commit suicide (even though I don’t like that choice) than I am with the choice to be a slave.