[fastpat]

Originally posted by oldE

I missed the symbol, so have to guess either you figured the statement was ludicrous enough to stand as a joke without the indicator or you really have no idea of the conditions of the time.

I was quite serious, and based my recommended answer on the conditions of the time.

Americans have no business spending tax money involuntarily taken from its' rightful owners, to be used to protect the business interests of others wishing to conduct commerce outside the country. If those business interests wish to form a cooperative arrangement for defense of their interests, I'd have no problem with that as long as it was totally voluntary, with no hint of coercion.

Your statement is tantamount to saying the pizza guy should be armed if he wants to deliver in some neighborhoods, and so should the paperboy etc.

While it's an interesting juxtaposition, worldwide private commerce with local commerce, but the self defense issues are the same. Yes, everyone is directely responsible for their own defense. They may hire someone to do it, or do it themselves, or decline to live in or work in areas known to be ripe with criminals.

I have not lived in the 'rough part of town' and, judging from the photos of your place, neither do you. There are, however, people who would have no compunctions whatever about relieving you of your hard-earned (I assume) income and benefits.

I'm sure that there are places like that, I've been in a number of them for business reasons, or to visit friends. Government is almost exclusively the problem with all of those places, without government they might still be problems, but to a substantially reduced degree, and over time would vanish.

In fact, let's turn your signature line around a bit and ask:
"What if your neighbow confronts you, demanding your money at gunpoint, and he has bigger guns and more family members than you ?"

His problems would only have just begun. Unless he kills me immediately, then I wouldn't be one removing his threat, but others would. In truth, well over 95% of the population in America isn't like that at all, that's why mala in se laws work, nearly everyone obeys them, and those who don't have a short, unsatisfactory life.

Your apparent solution is to buy more guns.

No, I'll have plenty to remedy such a short term set back. That, or my other neignbors will have already "arrested" the bad neigbor, recovered my tools, and await my decision as to the disposition of the criminal.

Sorry, you have no income left. You starve. Too bad you don't live in a country which had a constitution declaring, "To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; "

Sorry, your rather impossible scenario has been terminated earlier.

A few days ago, I made a prediction that if the country you professed to desire ever came into being, it would have a standard of living closer to that of Cuba than to the one you enjoy today.

No, Cuba is as close to a communist state as can exist without mass starvation and disease. They honor little private property, and have little real private commerce. My desired country would not only NOT be like Cuba, it would be more prosperous than America is today. Your country, Canada, is a very good example of going down the socialist road and become more and more serfs in your own land. I remember well, on my first visit to Canada in 1961, while it had a modicum of social services, it wasn't much different economically. The Canadian dollar was worth about $1.04 US dollars. Over the years, as the socialist welfare state has grown, significantly faster than in America, the value of the Canadian dollar has steadily plunged, almost in direct proportion to the difference in the levels of socialism between America and Canada. This isn't just my opinion, but that of several Canadian friends I've had for over 30 years. If this decline continues, and if you're an example, I expect it will, then it will be Canada that will have the experiences of Cuba, not America.

I stand by that, except to add the caveat the standard of living would be below Cuba's. The only good side would be that people would be free to leave, (wouldn't they?) If the response was a joke, I guess I get it. Les

No, it's obvious that you didn't "get it" at all, perhaps now you will.