The Power of the Parasite Class - Stefan Molyneux Speaks in Toronto

Stefan Molyneux, host of Freedomain Radio, addresses the Ontario Libertarian Party Annual General Meeting, Nov 6 2010. http://www.libertarian.on.ca/ http://www.freedomainradio.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• libertarian
• statism
• statist
• austrian
• economics
• republican
• deficit
• unions
• taxes
• elections

[TSMPimpDaddyPain]

@fishndoc11 voluntary my ass. Billions of dollars are extracted each year by force from taxpayers to fund this "voluntary" military that you speak of.

That's not even getting into the fact we've had drafts, once you join you can't change your mind and leave, etc.

[slickbtk]

@fishndoc11 lol such ignorance I dont even know where to start so I wont.

[JackofOneTrade567]

@fishndoc11 Some people can't pay. Free-riding is beneficial to those individuals.

[jarvy251]

@fishndoc11

Instead of a system of punishment, we want a system of incentives. Obviously, if you are being invaded and you value your freedom, there is incentive to join a militia, or help fund a militia, or start thinking of innovative new weapons, prepare themselves for a guerrilla war, etc. The people who don't are content in being conquered, and that is their right. It will decide itself.

[fishndoc11]

@jarvy251 I was in the Air Force for 26 yrs so I can see that perspective too and yes, you are correct about conscripts. I just wanted to know what you would do with the freeloaders. There will always be some people that don’t want to pay their way in any society. This anarcho-capitalist world you are talking about only works when there are consequences to your actions…or inactions.

[jarvy251]

@fishndoc11

I was in the army for eight years, so I see this a little differently.

If we were worried about free riders, why don't we have a draft anymore? As any volunteer soldier will tell you, a conscript's will to fight is unreliable. Conscripts generally feel resentful because they are essentially "slave soldiers."  This makes them untrustworthy.

You cannot force people to value freedom. If they value it, they will fight for it without being asked.

[fishndoc11]

@jarvy251 I agree with you. Now you just need a way to ensure everyone pays their share or does not benefit. Let’s say the country is being invaded by a totalitarian regime and everyone needs to fund the defense. What do we do with those that don’t want to pay? Deport them to the invading state or allow them to live in freedom while their neighbors pay?

[jarvy251]

@fishndoc11

"Even most hunter/gathers had to contribute to the group or be banished."

Basic capitalism. If you are incapable or unwilling to hunt, then you must offer up some other skill of value to convince the hunters to give you a share of the meat. If you do not, you must rely on their charity.

[jarvy251]

@fishndoc11

How do we decide that they are not working for the people? All a politician needs to do in convince that 50% plus one person, and they are untouchable. If a politician passed an unjust law that made slightly over half of the people happy but oppressed the rest, and 49% of the population simply stopped their funding, the bad law would disappear instantly or the government would collapse. Its better than voting.

[fishndoc11]

@jarvy251 It sounds like you have a problem with taxes not government. I agree with you, we should be able to fire them as soon as they start working for themselves and not the people. They should also all be held to one term only and there should be no retirement so the career politicians disappear. I believe some form of Government/taxes are inevitable. Even most hunter/gathers had to contribute to the group or be banished.

[jarvy251]

@fishndoc11

"What I am saying is that government is inevitable so we need to continuously hold them accountable"

I used to think so too, but the fact of the matter is that until taxes become voluntary somehow, government is completely unaccountable. I'm sure politicians would be very keen to keep their promises if we could stop paying their salaries at will. But if we could do that, why have government at all?

[fishndoc11]

@jarvy251 I could argue the definition of government, but I think we are on the same side here. What I am saying is that government is inevitable so we need to continuously hold them accountable because the only legitimate reason for government is to serve the people and defend their rights. In history there are many perfectly balanced societies, anarchy is not one and neither is what we have today. If only there was a reset button that we could push every time it gets out of balance.