I have agreed with the quotes I have put up so far, toady's quote I do not agree with, it intrigues me greatly and I agree with parts but not the whole idea. Today's quote is from Emma Goldman, a Lithuanian born Anarchist who immigrated to America in the 1880's.
"Anarchism stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals."
Of course I disagree with the first part because religion, specifically Christianity, is a good thing.
But let's look at the last three statements. Liberation of the human body from dominion of property. I think I can agree with this after all we shouldn't be obsessed with our belongings.
Liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. I would pause and ponder this statement; on one hand I don't like government but on the other hand restraint of government is proper at times so maybe some government is necessary.
Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals. At first I'm not sure how to take this, I mean if we all just lived as different gangs who fight each other for resources that would lead to bad things. But then I think, what are nations but organizations who compete with each other for resources and protect their people? What is the difference between a gang and a government? Well I tend to think that a just government is one that derives its power from the people. A gang derives it power from the amount of force they control, a government that does the same is a totalitarian government and those are bad.
So back to the quote, the author is saying that a social order where people decide what groups to be a part of freely is best. I think I can agree with that, I mean our government derives its power from the people and the people have to agree to be part of this group. So I think I would agree with this part as well.
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Privacy and Civilization
My quote today comes from my favorite philosopher Ayn Rand.
"Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men."
Our country was founded on the idea that man is responsible for his choices, that the government is there to protect a man's life, liberty and property. The government is responsible for making creating an environment where everyone can have those three things.
Man then is responsible for everything else, he is responsible for making his life worthwhile that is not the governments job, they should not provide health care or keep him from hurting himself through use of drugs. Man is responsible for his actions.
He is responsible for making good use of his liberty, he can say what he will, do what he wants, the government should not make sure he is saying the right things or that if he says them on the airwaves that the other side is equally represented. Each man is responsible for what he says and does.
He is responsible and has sole ownership of any property he acquires, government should not ensure that he has of property by taking from one and giving to another they are there just to protect whatever property he owns. If, like is happening now, the government uses tax money to buy banks or bailout the car industry then they are not protecting property they are stealing it and that is legal plunder.
Our society was founded on the idea that each man had privacy and with that privacy came responsibility. Today we are regressing because people no longer have personal responsibility, it is said that it is the responsibility of the rich to provide for those behind them and to give them the same opportunity they had to own property. The government by doing this is intervening in our lives and taking away our privacy, if we want to have a better society we will increase the amount of privacy and return to a time when a person is responsible only for themselves.
"Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men."
Our country was founded on the idea that man is responsible for his choices, that the government is there to protect a man's life, liberty and property. The government is responsible for making creating an environment where everyone can have those three things.
Man then is responsible for everything else, he is responsible for making his life worthwhile that is not the governments job, they should not provide health care or keep him from hurting himself through use of drugs. Man is responsible for his actions.
He is responsible for making good use of his liberty, he can say what he will, do what he wants, the government should not make sure he is saying the right things or that if he says them on the airwaves that the other side is equally represented. Each man is responsible for what he says and does.
He is responsible and has sole ownership of any property he acquires, government should not ensure that he has of property by taking from one and giving to another they are there just to protect whatever property he owns. If, like is happening now, the government uses tax money to buy banks or bailout the car industry then they are not protecting property they are stealing it and that is legal plunder.
Our society was founded on the idea that each man had privacy and with that privacy came responsibility. Today we are regressing because people no longer have personal responsibility, it is said that it is the responsibility of the rich to provide for those behind them and to give them the same opportunity they had to own property. The government by doing this is intervening in our lives and taking away our privacy, if we want to have a better society we will increase the amount of privacy and return to a time when a person is responsible only for themselves.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Liberties and Force
Today's quote comes from Dorthy Thompson a journalist during World War Two.
"When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered."
I'm not sure whether to agree or disagree with this quote, I obviously agree with the first part. If my liberty were taken away by say a bank robber while I was in a bank it would take the use of force by me or the police to gain it back.
However the second part is more complicated; if I choose to give up my right to privacy to the government because of a fear of terrorism how would I get it back? Could I ask them to pass another law giving it back? As shown with the Patriot Act this has proven difficult all though I do hope that one day people will wake up and take back their rights that they have given up during this war on terror. But will that be possible through legitimate channels? And even if on paper we got our Liberties back would the government actually respect them?
"When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered."
I'm not sure whether to agree or disagree with this quote, I obviously agree with the first part. If my liberty were taken away by say a bank robber while I was in a bank it would take the use of force by me or the police to gain it back.
However the second part is more complicated; if I choose to give up my right to privacy to the government because of a fear of terrorism how would I get it back? Could I ask them to pass another law giving it back? As shown with the Patriot Act this has proven difficult all though I do hope that one day people will wake up and take back their rights that they have given up during this war on terror. But will that be possible through legitimate channels? And even if on paper we got our Liberties back would the government actually respect them?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Freedom of the Press
My quote today comes from one of our Founding Fathers; George Mason. A Virginian he helped write the Virginia Declaration of Rights; he was also one of the leaders of the anti-federalist and much of the Bill of Rights is based on his writings in the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
"The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments."
It seems like today that everyone hates the press, Democrats hate talk radio because no one with their opinions can seem to last on radio so they suggest the fairness doctrine to force stations to give equal time to opposing views. Republicans hate the print press because they're all liberal rags and the big TV stations are biased too so they support TV stations like FOX. So while people are saying how much they hate the press remember that they're a bulwark of Liberty and they need to be protected.
"The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments."
It seems like today that everyone hates the press, Democrats hate talk radio because no one with their opinions can seem to last on radio so they suggest the fairness doctrine to force stations to give equal time to opposing views. Republicans hate the print press because they're all liberal rags and the big TV stations are biased too so they support TV stations like FOX. So while people are saying how much they hate the press remember that they're a bulwark of Liberty and they need to be protected.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Democracy and Totalitarianisms
This years debate topic is about India so today's quote comes from Gandhi the leader of the Indian revolution. Gandhi left his mark on both Indian culture and politics that remains in effect to this day.
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?"
In today's so called war on "terror" we must consider very carefully the destruction that is wrought in the name of democracy. Consider the half a million children in Iraq who died of starvation during the food for oil program. Did it matter that the embargo was about spreading democracy? No children still died, the ends never justify the means.
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?"
In today's so called war on "terror" we must consider very carefully the destruction that is wrought in the name of democracy. Consider the half a million children in Iraq who died of starvation during the food for oil program. Did it matter that the embargo was about spreading democracy? No children still died, the ends never justify the means.
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