Yo Platt, > > I don't know of a single corporation that controls a state, but I know of a > single state that controls a corporation, like the U.S. government's > control of AIG.
But who comprises the (nod to Arlo) "evil g'ummint", Platt? It's the same ruling class that controls the corporations. They blend and twirl and lobby and reward each other through their incestuous relationships till the whole thing is one vast entity. There is no more check, no more balance. It's all power-mongering and what would you expect? In a values-vacuum, the selfish interest will always be the subconscious drive and the will to power the only rule. Adam Smith's invisible hand becomes a booted foot grinding down the have-nots. Not that they don't deserve it, the miserable have-nots. They could be free if they'd only take control of their own destiny and be reincarnated into a family with a good name. > > I notice you decry the violence done in the name of past collectivism > quite > > a bit Platt. So I ask you, if this government/corporate combine was able > to > > consolidate power gently, without death and violence but rather through > > propoganda techniques, would it then be "ok"? > > Propaganda is one arm of the power struggle used by all sides. But the > power of government rests on the threat of physical coercion through its > monopoly of the police and military forces. So as long as government is > involved there's no such thing as "gentle" persuasion without violence > and death. > In the lopsided arrangement between producer and viewer, I don't think the propaganda flows both ways. Let me point out that the power of Big Bro is consolidated more in the tv tube than the gun. > Which brings up a question for you. How will you handle biological crime > in your proposed "circle?" > > > So far my favorite form of government I've ever experienced was at > Burning > > Man - which is about as libertarian as I can imagine. > > Not knowing what Burning Man was I went to Wikepedia and found it > involved the following restrictions: > > * An imposed curved grid street structure.[6] > * A speed limit of 5 mph (8 km/h).[7] > * A ban on driving, except for approved "mutant vehicles" and service > vehicles.[8] > * Restrictions and imposing of safety standards on mutant vehicles.[7] > * A ban on campfires and Tiki torches.[9] > * Burning your own art must be done on an approved burn > platform.[10] > * A ban on fireworks.[11] > * A ban on firearms.[12] > * A ban on dogs.[13] > > I think where I live year round there are less restrictions. > Me too! But you see, there is a difference between a community with freely-chosen rules and one that has to conform to arbitrarily imposed standards. Every person who goes to BM, knows the rules ahead of time and freely chooses them in order to "play the game". Admittedly, you can also view local zoning in the same light, and I do, but most don't. But your question about biological crime in my circle needs more attention. For one thing, those that enter the circle are trained and versed in tribal customs and laws that date back thousands of years and are well-evolved to handle such things. Second, I thought about the fact that such a microcosmic segment might "get away" with some crime while in the center, but in a very pragmatic sense, what prison could they be transported to that was in any way worse than being totally cut off from civilazation's comforts? The participants are already in a self-imposed jail/exile that's lower in standards of living than anything devised as "deterent". Except of course, for the presence of women - which is probably the defining characteristic of any imprisonment. Take Care, John Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
