Obama and McCain Can Suck It

[anogete]

It's Constitution Day! Don't expect our dear presidential candidates (McCain and Obama) to tell you this, though. They're too busy fucking over the Constitution with their promised policies. I, however, think the Constitution is super awesome. I'm aware that I'm probably the only libertarian with radical tendencies among my circle of friends on LJ (or anywhere else on the 'net, for that matter). I avoid pushing my political beliefs on my flist most of the time, so I figured you could handle it for one day. And this is a perfecto day for it, seeing as how we're being screwed over by the government bailouts of stupid companies that aren't aware of (and don't care) how true capitalism works. Then again, we're most certainly not living in a capitalist society. Oh, how I wish we were...

Lemme put a lid on the ranting and get to the linkage. This is as much for my future reference as anything else. I know many of you are very set in your ways when it comes to politics, and I don't expect to change your mind. Though, I do think I'm right, and my way is the most logical way. You'll probably have a revelation in your old age and realize that Amanda was right all along, and it's really too bad no one listened to her or we wouldn't all be eating cat food (or possibly soylent green). Eating people is not cool, you guys.

Break the Matrix - This came out of the grassroots area of Ron Paul's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Of course, Dr. Paul didn't stand a chance since all the neo-conservative Republicans hate him. However, the website and revolution behind it is great. It's about taking back the media and getting the third parties' voices heard through the Republocrat nonsense.

Libertarian Party - Though I am a libertarian, I am not a member of the Libertarian Party. I've yet to pay the yearly dues and get a pretty card in the mail. I am, however, registered as an independent. The LP website has wonderful and clear-cut information on their stance on issues. There is also a fantastic press release by Bob Barr regarding the bailouts that have happened recently. Yay, Bob.

Mises Institute - This is something that is near and dear to my heart. I am consistently in awe of the intelligent and logical and innovative thinkers that come out of the Austrian Economics school. I also find it beyond frustrating that no one will listen to what Austrian Economics is about and how it could fix all our current economic problems. The Mises Institute publishes top-notch books as low prices, and they offer many of these books for free download on their website. Your brain will love you.

Comments

[paulskemp.livejournal.com]

Question: On economic matters, how would you address the problem of public goods and the free rider problem (think streetlights or roads, by way of example). How would you respond to the claim that the market is a poor regulator of safety, since it, by definition, only regulates ex post? (i.e., a market, assuming full information on the part of the participants, which is another issue altogether, can only respond to a safety issue after the issue has come to light, presumably through evidence of harm; think here of the role the FDA plays today and how a libertarian government would address that issue).

I always ask these questions of libertarians and never receive an answer.

[holczer13.livejournal.com]

Because you went so very very deep, I have a question in return for you. Given: the current situation is so bad, that it is impossible to Believe it could get worse.

In this instance, would it be true that any potential change could be perceived as a change for the better, because when you have reached that point, you truly believe nothing could make things worse?

I ask this for several reasons: as anogete knows, my life got superduper-mr.hooper sucky recently, and is now getting better. At the lowest point of the low, I truly believed (and still believe) that change was necessary to happen, to keep me alive, to make my life worth living again. Each day gets minutely better(some days more than minutely), and I would never ever want to go back to the way things were(I never want to be the person who doesn't care if she lives or dies ever again...EVER!)

So, being there right now, I can, whether I buy it or not, see how people want Barack Obama and how they want "CHANGE". I can see how they are tired of the same old crap. I can understand (and personally agree)that McCain promises the "same old crap".

What I wish is that people would define the "change" that they want and hold all of our government, from the lowest level to the highest, to that standard.

[anogete.livejournal.com]

I'm not a subscriber to the belief that any change must be good change, especially when it comes to laws and the economy. Then again, I don't even think I'd say any change is good change in anyone's personal life. Change could be taking up drinking and driving oneself further into a hole of despair. And that would be a bad change. That said, I'm definitely for change, but (like you) I'd just like to know what kind of change first.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better, even if it is just a bit. You know my offer to lend an ear still stands. You should go out on the front lawn and do the Macarena dance just because you can. That will either cheer you up or depress you enough that you'll laugh at yourself. ;-) Either way, it's change, right?

[holczer13.livejournal.com]

I am trying to not whine all the freakin' time...LOL...I am on this journey for myself, I have to get well for me, and then once that happens, I get to deal with whether or not I will get to have a marriage again. And somewhere in this process I get to (hopefully) get an answer from VA comp/pension about how much more(if any) they think I am disabled. So, some days, like today, the stress just explodes in an overwhelming way. Primarily today, because it was the 15th anniversary of our first date/kiss. I think I will be pretty good until Thanksgiving day. So, if things get worse, I will take you up on it.

Amazingly, or maybe not so amazingly, things have been getting better. I don't cry multiple times each day. I don't go on big crying jags when I do cry. I think my meds might finally be the correct ones/dose and be working. I am NOT further into the hole of despair. I am further OUT of the hole of despair. So, it's not all good, but its getting better! :) Oh, and I will leave the Macarena to my husband/couldbe ex/friend/jerk who won't see the changes in me...LOL

[paulskemp.livejournal.com]

I do think things can get worse, yes. Substantially so.

For me, Libertarianism is useful as a political philosophy primarily as a framework from which to critique more mainstream philosophies that have an eye toward actual governance (in that regard, it plays much the same role from the right as Socialism plays from the left).

As a philosophy of governance, I think Libertarianism (and Socialism) is a disaster in waiting, for reasons raised implicitly in the questions I asked of Anogete above.

[anogete.livejournal.com]

First, I'll be happy to answer your questions in the best way I can, though I am by no means an expert on all things economic. I enjoy reading about it and keeping up with the news, but my connection to the Mises Institute amounts to my ordering books from them every now and again. I'm sure someone more versed on the subject matter could do a much better job of a satisfactory answer.

I'm not for dumping all forms of government income. There are always, even in the most libertarian societies, going to be government employees and areas (public works would be the most obvious) that these employees must maintain. I just don't think it should be quite so rampant, especially at the federal level. There is no need for the government to hand out grants to artists so they can sculpt metal statues for public squares, but there is a need for some government money to be used for public works projects (roads, sewer, etc).

As for the second question, I want to believe the best of people. If a company provides safe and quality goods, then the public will patronize that business. If not, then they go out of business. I also believe an individual should be considered intelligent enough to decide on what he would like to put in his body. If Joe Schmo wants to inject heroin, then he should be given leave to do so, but there are consequences, and I think those consequences are very well known in today's society. I do agree with what you said about harm being dealt with after the fact, and without the FDA that would be the case. The point is, we coddle the public. Everything is decided for us, and we are not given the opportunity to weigh the options and decide on our own. If I want to take a herb to alleviate my allergies, I can't. The FDA hasn't approved it yet, perhaps because this herb would cut into the profits of a large drug company that distributes medicine for allergies. I'm not against the experiments to determine if a product is safe. I just don't see why this cannot be done in private business, outside of the government. If there were no FDA, but a series of companies that specialized in investigating the safety of new drugs and food, then you can bet I'd pay a subscription fee to have access to their information. If there were more than one company doing this, then they could compete for my business. And I'd have more money because it would be sucked up by taxes going to ineffective government organizations. At any rate, I am not necessarily for doing away with the FDA, as in your example. I don't think I have the proper information to make the determination right now. I am, however, for severely cutting its power.

I read your blog and we're quite opposite when it comes to politics in general. I'm not one of those people who looks down upon others who think differently than I do because, in the end, it is core personal values that shape many political beliefs. I can understand why you would be of a more liberal mindset, just as I can understand why a Republican would be of a more conservative one. The thing that is most important to me is keeping government interference in my life to a minimum, which is why I consider myself to be a libertarian. Unfortunately, everything I hear out of both major party candidates promises more regulation and more interference. Beyond that, the let-me-tell-you-want-to-do-because-I'm-smarter-than-you mentality irk me, and that is also very prevalent in both candidates, or at least in my estimation.

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, I was just saying that I do enjoy reading your political posts, even if I don't agree half the time. :-) I take it as food for thought, and that never hurts.

[paulskemp.livejournal.com]

See my response above. And I appreciate your views, as well. I've long discussed/studied/debated Libertarianism, and, as I mentioned above, its failure to address issues as fundamental as the problem of public goods, free riders, and ex ante regulation, render it(for me) useful only as a conceptual framework from which to critique more mainstream political philosophies, but God/Flying Spaghetti Monster help us all if Libertarianism were ever made policy.

[keladry_lupin]

Obama and McCain Can Suck It

THANK YOU.

[marasmine.livejournal.com]

I think our politics are a lot simpler than yours - we have several choices but the main parties are Blah, Blah and Who?Me?. I usually vote for Who?Me? or NotAChance because choosing between Blah and Blah is virtually impossible - along the lines of "did you want white coffee or did you want milk in it?" or "black coffee or coffee without milk?" for political correctness you should consider both options equally.

I was horrified by a recent bit of news, delivered in admiring chirpy tones, that Obama had raised $66 million for his campain over a few days. I know your politicians waste a lot of money buying themselves into office but for some reason this struck me as particularly obscene. I'm sure that kind of money could do much more good spent on something meaningful rather than parties and hot air.

[anogete.livejournal.com]

I was a bit taken aback by the Barbara Streisand concert that was meant to raise funds for Obama. I'm unsure of the exact figure, but I believe the dinner and concert were well over $30,000 for one ticket. Yikes. If I had $30,000, I'd spend it on something other than Barbara Streisand. Then again, I'm not a particular fan of hers, so I may be biased.

[marasmine.livejournal.com]

I suppose it is just one of those mysteries that we will never understand! If I had that sort of money spare I might buy a space shuttle ticket or something like that. Or possibly a proper charity concert ticket. But a politician? Nuh-huh. No way.