Oceans Yet to Burn

[Oceans Yet to Burn]

[taxloopholes]

libertarians: there’s a small elite class of people that shouldn’t have such a huge amount of control over the economy

me: yah

libertarians: it’s only the public sector

me: nah

[triggeredmedia]

Have you ever met a libertarian?

You are describing liberals. They believe public sector rules and we need more govt.

[taxloopholes]

…that’s not what this means. i explained it here: http://taxloopholes.tumblr.com/post/160617784322/the-libertarian-transhumanist-the-only

[triggeredmedia]

So you are against wealth?

Do you believe someone else being rich prevents you from being rich?

Do you believe their is any govt regulations that help people gain wealth?

Do you believe people do not have a right to be wealthy?

[taxloopholes]

that’s not what I said.

I’m pointing out that the argument from libertarians that it’s governments making corporations push their interests against the public good is bullshit because it disregards how and what brought about basic regulation in the first place and what corporations do overseas WITHOUT regulations protecting workers.

I also said it’s ridiculous that just 8 people have more wealth than 3.6 BILLION people is a bit ridiculous, especially considering Western corporations rely on global poverty for cheap labor. so yes I have a problem with multi billion dollar corporations paying people starvation wages and pushing the narrative that they earned that money without exploitation. even billionaires admit to this which is pretty ironic.

if you already disagree there’s not much I can do to change your mind, though.

[ranma-official]

The “8 people have more wealth than X billion” statisic is a bit disingenuous if I’m right about the exact statisic you’re citing.

It’s not that we can just redistribute that wealth amongst these X billion and fix poverty, because these X billion actually have zero or negative net worth, meaning it won’t even make a dent. So that’s a completely different problem that needs a completely different solution.

I’m not sure what kind, though.

[mitigatedchaos]

Only what is produced can be consumed. Need to keep teching up and expanding production.

Were I in charge I might also pursue development programs in stable militarily-allied countries in order to build a high-powered international bloc, transforming the national interest into one that could justify this kind of investment, buuut much of the Left would despise me.

[Oceans Yet to Burn]

[thathopeyetlives]

I have a vague like (well below the level of actual political preference) for a monarchy.

And, well, I really, really, really don’t like British Monarchy Apologism. It’s simultaneously obscene and cowardly.

[thathopeyetlives]

If we see a restoration it will, and will have to be, different. Above all things the historical aristocratic contempt for all things useful and practical and especially for labor must pass away.

[rendakuenthusiast]

I’m not sure it’s possible to have a monarchy without some level of aristocratic contempt for useful and practical things. What would a non-aristocratic monarchy look like? 

[thathopeyetlives]

I didn’t necessarily say “a non-aristocratic monarchy”.

What I was specifically thinking of is, like, people who form entire cultures around considering Working For A Living to be basically illegitimate, and who then don’t have the saving grace to live in austere and ascetic poverty when their rent fails them.

[mitigatedchaos]

In my ideal nation, the royal family would have the role of safeguarding the nation’s culture (and a few other things) rather than being a tourist attraction or having full political power better reserved for the civilian government.

Their membership would be drawn from national heroes, waning over several generations and requiring new heroes to marry in for the line to remain royal.  So, great artists, great scientists, great warriors, those who have made amazing sacrifices - people who just knowing they’re from your country and embody its ideals, make your heart swell with pride.

This keeps the genetic lines fresh, rewards those who benefit society, helps keep the nation united, and so on.  In many countries the monarchy is reduced to a national mascot and cultural institution - so if we’re going to do that, let’s do it right.