Why I'm Not 100% Libertarian Anymore

[fastpat]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
So Washington (probably the most popular US president in history) stepped down because he thought he'd get kicked out office? Or are you saying that his leaving had something to do with the Alien and Seditions Acts that were passed by the subsequent administration after he left office?

Enjoy your fantasy world Pat.
-Chris

Umm, no, Mr. Bennet, that's not what I'm saying at all. It's too bad I can't write in a way that would mimic my saying things more slowly, so I guess I'll do the next best thing and repeat myself, with smaller steps in the process.

Washington resigned in order for the federalists to remain in power. He was quite wealthy personally and didn't need the money that acrues to power, but those like Hamilton and Adams were not. Under Adams, a Close associate of Washington and staunch federalist, things got a lot worse for them anyway, almost as if Washington had remained in power. Of course, as any school boy including you it seems, can look up the date the Alien and Sedition Act was passed.

Hope that's cleared up for you, I can't write any more slowly.

It's not germaine in any case, press on.

Oh, one more thing, a man's popularity isn't relevant to his character. Napoleon is wildly popular in France, yet he was, as you know a murderous dictator, slaughtered tens of thousands of innocent men and women all across europe, and impoverished millions.

[Rodeo]

Washington declining to become America's royalty was no more significant than his successor voluntarily leaving the White House so that his arch enemy (at the time) Thomas Jefferson could move in. Washington handing over the reins to his Federalist vice president is one thing. Adams relinquishing power to his one-time friend that had betrayed him, betrayed the Federalist party, and (to Adams' mind) betrayed the revolution is quite another.

Adams to Jefferson was a bloodless, democratic change of control from one political party to another. Quite a significant event in the development of democracy, notwithstanding Adams' well-documented shortcomings.

Pat, I'm amused by your persistent refusal to describe to us the America you so fervently want. It's almost like you are embarrassed to say it out loud. You are very good at describing the criminals and incompetents that gave us the country we live in, and the shortcomings of our system today, but unabashedly silent when it comes to any vision of the future you so desire.

What does Fastpat's America look like a year after the government is brought to its knees? Com'on! What is it like 5 years later, with no military, no public safety officers, no DOT, Treasury, EPA, Medicare, or FBI?

[snowman]

Originally posted by Rodeo
Pat's calling himself a libertarian, but I don't think he is. I thing he's an anarchist. And I think his system would last all of five minutes, until some strongman came along with the resources and ruthlessness to subjugate all of the people Pat just "freed" from the government.

Maybe Pat himself is planning on picking up the pieces. Whoever is fast enough and smart enough and rich enough to fill the void will be handsomely rewarded, at least until someone faster and smarter and richer comes along.

No thanks.

For once I agree with you.

This is exactly the point about enslavement I have been trying to make to Pat.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Rodeo
Washington declining to become America's royalty was no more significant than his successor voluntarily leaving the White House so that his arch enemy (at the time) Thomas Jefferson could move in. Washington handing over the reins to his Federalist vice president is one thing. Adams relinquishing power to his one-time friend that had betrayed him, betrayed the Federalist party, and (to Adams' mind) betrayed the revolution is quite another.

Adams to Jefferson was a bloodless, democratic change of control from one political party to another. Quite a significant event in the development of democracy, notwithstanding Adams' well-documented shortcomings.

Pat, I'm amused by your persistent refusal to describe to us the America you so fervently want. It's almost like you are embarrassed to say it out loud. You are very good at describing the criminals and incompetents that gave us the country we live in, and the shortcomings of our system today, but unabashedly silent when it comes to any vision of the future you so desire.

What does Fastpat's America look like a year after the government is brought to its knees? Com'on! What is it like 5 years later, with no military, no public safety officers, no DOT, Treasury, EPA, Medicare, or FBI?

Let me amuse you further.

1. The Probability Broach
2. Pallas
3. Working Papers, the Ludwig von Mises Institute
4. Nations by Consent: Decomposing the Nation-State
5. The Works of Murray Rothbard

There you go, it's not much, but it's a start. Whole worlds take a lot of time to describe, but you have to begin some where, the above will set you on the right path.

None of it embarrasses me in the slightest.