View Single Post
Old Jun 29, 2006, 10:02 am   #20 (permalink) (top)
Autolykos
Logical Phallussy
 
Autolykos's Avatar
 
Location: In your internets.
Posts: 2,991
Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
Fair question. Legitimate government is collectivism. And I favor individualism. Personal responsibility. Self-motivation.
I don't mind collectivism, as long as it's voluntary on the part of its members. Unless use of force is an integral part of how you define "collectivism", but I doubt that.

Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
So why would I favor any government at all? Because there are some things that are impossible to do for ourselves by ourselves...
"No man is an island." An oft-quoted sentence, that. Notice, however, that it says nothing about the necessity of coming together in groups where some can use force against the rest without serious fear of reprisals (i.e. government).

Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
Will you resist the organized armed forces of another powerful nation by YOURSELF?
Probably not. Then again, why would they bother to come after me and me alone?

Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
Will you engage in personal DIRECT ACTION against the polluters of water and sky?
Perhaps. At the moment, I choose to do other things with my time.

Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
Can you abate an epidemic by yourself?
Possibly. If I withdrew from civilization and became a hermit.

Quote:
Quote by: PatrickHenry
Note that my list is not exhaustive and I am willing to debate the functions I did mention...
The point I'm trying to make is that there is nothing that, by necessity or by definition, must be done by political means (which ultimately means use of force).

- Rob


"I'd rather be free and alive!" -- Ron Paul

Religion isn't the greatest threat to mankind -- authoritarianism is.

The Anarcheion

Zeitgeist
Autolykos is offline   Reply With Quote