[Platt] Seems to me that with your superior knowledge that you could tell the difference between distribution and redistribution. Most sixth graders can.
[Case] Well you got me there. I really can't tell. Perhaps you could explain the difference to me. [Platt] As for government being defined as the legal use of coercive power, I've been saying that for years. Taxes, for example, are hijacked from citizens at the point of a gun. [Case] How astute of you. I am guess you started saying that around the early '80s. But as I have pointed out several times taxes are ONLY levied upon those who earn income or own property. No one forces us to do that and in fact we will provide a subsistence living even to those who are unable or unwilling to participate. No one forces anyone to participate in the economic system. But there is a charge to play. That charge is taxes and if you elect to play and not pay; well then we break out the firearms. > [Case] > It is the application of force that is the problem not the specifics of > the system. Pirsig claims communism is a higher moral code than > capitalism. What he sees as the failure of socialist systems to allow for > the action of DQ is really a matter of trying to exercise too much force > and control in the economy. [Platt] No kidding. Communism has slaughtered untold millions of its own subjects. [Case] The slaughter of millions is by no means confined to communism. Capitalists do it, Christians do it, Muslims do it. We really only tend to get outraged about it when somebody else is doing it. > [Case] > Capitalism is nothing more that abstract Darwinism. [Platt] Bringing you and me untold riches -- the free market a fertile ground for DQ. [Case] I thought the free market did not exist. Aren't the economies of the west mixed economies? Especially in Europe where as you have said they are nothing but a bunch of pinkos. Yet there they are cranking out the wealth. Maybe they missed your memo. [Platt] I guess your superior knowledge has ignored the rise of modern German and Japan after WW II. Oh, well . . . [Case] Funny how when your mind wanders between communists and fascists so much I just they kind of blend together, huh? My point was that the use of force follows a kind of Newtonian principle. If you force something there is resistance that leads to escalation and increased violence. It works that way when communists do, when fascists do it, when Christians do it, when Muslims do it. That's the way it works. You know it is also odd that you fear the power of government, then support those who actively seek to infringe on your freedoms while vilifying those who seek to protect them. You love the "Patriot" Act and hate the American Civil Liberties Union. In the topsey turvey world of Platt that may seem to make sense but to some of us it seems like there is a need for remedial civics lessons. 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/
