I've had it with ethanol

[Sandbilly]

You were extended a loan from an extortioner that has convinced you that his victims have done a virtuous act so that you will support further acts of extortion.  There is no virtue here.  The money behind the loan you received was stolen.  The cost for your loan goes far far beyond what you see as your cost.

If I understand this statement correctly you believe all victims of a natural disaster should not receive government assistance of any kind?

No, we do it to ourselves.  The politician are politicians that we've chosen.  Wallstreet operates with wealth that we put there.  The system is what we make it based on principles and beliefs that we hold.  Allow someone to control our principles and beliefs and we are complicit in what that someone does with it.

Agree in part, the problem is you are talking philosophy not reality. Curious of how you would move an entire culture into a more conservative lifestyle? Should the to too big to fail.......fail? 

dc 
 

[Lac Suel Freak]

Welcome to Dr. Frankensteins world. Beautiful monster isn't it???

[JohnF]

If I understand this statement correctly you believe all victims of a natural disaster should not receive government assistance of any kind?

Assistance - yes.  Government assistance - no.

All taxation does in this equation is cost more.

Agree in part, the problem is you are talking philosophy not reality.

Not reality?  How so?  If you want I certainly can talk philosophy but I haven't gone there yet. 

Curious of how you would move an entire culture into a more conservative lifestyle?

Two parts to this response: how and then to what.

The what first.  I do not want conservatism.  Conservatism comes from the idea that some people are genetically gifted to lead society.  Originally it was called "Aristocratic Conservatism" and the name shortened.  Today it means many things in many confusing flavors and one of these is liberalism.  I advocate a liberal society.  The kind that is now called "Classical Liberalism" and not the renamed Socialism.  You know, the definition that most matches the root word, liberty.

I had to delve here because my answer to how is dictated by what.  I cannot demand liberty with a sword; defend yes; demand no.  Liberty is something you have to give to get.

So how?  Education.  Reason.  A majority that through reason accepts that the principles of liberty produce the best environment for the best that human kind can produce and are willing to defend this idea with violence.  Until that time I will fight the battle with the only tools I have - reason.

You see, it is not the majority numbers that holds power over society, it is the majority violence.

Should the to too big to fail.......fail?

Absolutely and without a doubt.  It is a fallacious notion that there exists something that is to big to fail anyway.

[Lac Suel Freak]

"You see, it is not the majority numbers that holds power over society, it is the majority violence."

Majority wealth. Their monetary motives create violance.

[JohnF]

Majority wealth. Their monetary motives create violance.

We all have motives of wealth.  Some very wealthy people out there have gotten so without forcing their wares on society or propping their concerns using the tools of government.  You could yourself become wealthy by inventing the next mousetrap.

Consider your statement the other way,  would the majority violence use their tools to gain wealth?  This is my way of saying that I think you see this a bit backwards.

Power corrupts.

[Lac Suel Freak]

We all have motives of wealth.  Some very wealthy people out there have gotten so without forcing their wares on society or propping their concerns using the tools of government.  You could yourself become wealthy by inventing the next mousetrap.

Consider your statement the other way,  would the majority violence use their tools to gain wealth?  This is my way of saying that I think you see this a bit backwards.

Power corrupts.

Those who throw stones have no power. You may have it backwards. It takes wealth to build power even if its only the bad apples. Problem is the bad apples control most of that power. It is much more profitable to steal your money on the backs of people and government programs.

Just sayin

[JohnF]

Those who throw stones have no power.

Huh?

Stone throwers hold power over passivists.
They don't hold a candle against a tank though.
In each of those scenarios, who holds the majority violence?

You may have it backwards.

I accept that I may.  I do not see a causal link that wealth becomes violence.  I suspect that if either your or I were to wake up from a nap this afternoon and find $100M windfall at our door that our tendency for violence would not change.

Show me a causal link.  And then we can argue that wealth itself is bad.

[Lac Suel Freak]

Wealth is not bad in nature. I don't believe wealth causes violence at all. I am simply saying that those who create world problems by way of violence are wealthy. Stone throwers have been throwing stones for years with little global economic affect. In fact we are using words as stones right now and it gets nowhere. We are still getting shafted by policy makers this very minute. Those who seek middle eastern oil for more wealth have global economic impact. They happen to be wealthy and bad in nature. This is just one example.

[JohnF]

W...

I wish I knew your real name uh..., Freak.  I do believe that in essence we are in agreement. <I would put a handshakey emoticon here if it existed>

I even agree with you that bluegill are worthy avatar subject.