Hi Brian. Have a marvelous weekend.

1. No person has the right to rule over the life of another, so I would of course not only refuse the offer, but deny that it had any legitimacy. For those who believe otherwise, upon what do you base the assumption that one (or many) have the right to in practice own other persons?

2.Taxation is theft, and indirect slavery. Your life is your own only, and no other person has a right to take it from you, whether in the form of coercion or outright taking of property (tax)

3.Yes I have used the term in a historical context. This does not imply agreement but rather simply recognizes that the term is used, much like using the term "the grand experiment" to refer to the creation of the US Government. Common historical reference.

4. The size of a company is irrelevant. The nature of it is. No corporation is legitimate as corporations are legal fictions designed to protect a few from the consequences of their actions. If however a company grows to any given size when and where the officers are responsible for their actions, then of course there is no problem with regard to their nature. Get government out of business dealings by stopping government protection called "Incorporation." Allow the free market to exist instead.

5. I prefer the free market to any controlled economy, even if that economy were to be capitalistic. Allow individuals to choose how they wish to freely and voluntarily interact. If some group within an economy wishes to barter instead of accumulate capital, great. If others wish to create a micro economy in their own sphere of influence in which they jointly own property and the means of production, they should be free to do so.

6. See the answer to #2. No one has a right to the life or labor of any other person. Basic respect for persons necessitates this. Equality necessitates this. All helping of others must be voluntary, not coerced. Abolish all "entitlement" programs.

7. Your choices with regard to health care are personal and should be left personal. No interference of any kind on the part of any entity, be it a government, a church, or whatnot.

8. Altruism is a myth. The attempt at altruism is harmful to everyone involved, but especially the one acting upon that myth. Well thought out self-interest, particularly by decent people, is good for all. I help my neighbor because I like helping my neighbor. I "sacrifice" my time and effort, for the reward of the feeling I get regardless of what my neighbor thinks or does.

9. "Heaven" is a cruel myth. Reasonable persons disregard the myth entirely. Utopia will never exist because we are fallible creatures and even some who pretend to celebrate reason will lash out at individuals who celebrate reason and follow reason to the necessary and logical conclusions. Still, in atmospheres where truth and reason do in fact prevail, even differing desires do not interfere with true and deep friendships.

Question 10:

Are you really willing to follow where reason leads, even or perhaps especially when it leads to conclusions which are different from your desires? Or will you balk in such a way as to lash out in denial viciously attacking anyone or anything which fails to match your desires?

President George Washington quotes:

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.

The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.

The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.

The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good.

Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.

We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience.

Hi Jim and Will. Hi everyone.

I will join the discussion this weekend. I look forward to seeing your votes and comments in the Happy & Brainy poll.

Have a great Friday and weekend.

I agree that a government needs a way of getting money, but the right to tax, once conceded, is a Pandora's Box. The money I earn is taxed too many times & is frittered away in too many ways that I don't support.

I don't think the 'rich' are where the money is, from what I've read. Depends on how you define rich, but most personal income & property tax money comes from what I'd call middle class, I think. There's a lot more of us. There also has to be some restraint on progressive taxes, though. Too many taxes on the rich & they'll take their money elsewhere. Most of the rest of us can't or won't move out, but they can & will.

I'm not sure if the above applies to small businesses versus large businesses or not. I do know a lot of the latter are moving to better economic climates & the former can't.

I'd like to see more fee based systems because I think then the money would go from the consumer to the provider in a straighter line. Tax me for the highway I drive on. The poor guy down the block won't have to pay the toll if he isn't using it. It would, hopefully (OK, wishful thinking) give the government less choice where to use the money I pay them.

Taxes are a necessary and inherent part of organizing a government to provide the services required of civilized people, i.e. roads, Defense, REGULATION OF BANKING, etc.

Progressive taxes are actually more realistic than flat taxes. Those who make the most pay more than those who require the small amount they make for survival. You get the money from where it is...the rich. Taxing the poor may be immoral (I won't argue this point) but it is certainly less efficient. "Why do you rob banks? Answer: That's where the money is."

Of taxes, I'm not a fan. It's a can of worms, any way you look at it. We currently have a mix of every kind of tax imaginable, I think.

Taxes are not equitable for all people, whether flat, progressive or whatever. Some just can't afford the added burden & others barely notice them. A progressive tax is possibly the most obnoxious & unfair tax, although property & inheritance taxes are right up there. I'd do away with any progressive tax in favor of a flat percentage tax & more fee based services. (e.g. Pay to use the faster freeway rather than the free, secondary roads.) I'd do away with all property & inheritance taxes. I don't think they are ever warranted. In both cases, I earned it, it's been taxed once. Hands off.

At present, our tax system means that some government busy body needs to know what I buy & sell (earn) for an income tax or what I own for a property tax. I think that is incredibly invasive & repressive, especially when what I pay increases when I earn more or improve my property more. What I leave to my kids when I die is absolutely not open for a tax. Taxes on top of taxes are crazy. This incites rebellion & cheating.

So I don't like taxes, but we need some. As a society, we all need to chip in for the infrastructure; roads, schools & government. How much gets spent where is the government's job to allocate - they're our compromise on fiscal responsibility. Some people will need to be coerced into paying & some will have to pay more than others. It's unfair, but I don't see a way around it, so I think it's picking the lesser of the evils.

The biggest problem with taxes is the lack of control on the growth of the bureaucracy they feed & its spending, though. A bureaucracy is a living entity that will grow until limited. We have placed few to no limits on ours. As it grows, so does its need for food (taxes) & it is out of control. I think that is a root of the problem that needs to be addressed - possibly first, but at least at the same time.

While I really hate income tax, I don't know of a way around it. I seem to recall we didn't even have one in the U.S. until the 1930's or so. Maybe it was earlier than that & only on the Federal level. States had income taxes way before then. Anyone know?

Hi Jim - thanks.

George Washington's rejection of the movement to make him king and his “abhorrent” comment made me fully understand the following:

* a valuer - George Washington passionately valued liberty, so it follows that he wanted it not just for himself but for every man.

* a man of integrity - George Washington revolted against a king; he battled the king's men; after winning the revolution, he thought it abhorrent to become king - what a devotion to values!

* a respecter of man - the hands-off policy toward one's fellowmen (who do not infringe on the equal rights of others) is a show of respect. A respecter of man trades value for value.

*
Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln shared George Washington's passion for liberty:

Thomas Jefferson: "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."

Abraham Lincoln: "We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor.

Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny."

I wonder if a benign tyrant isn't the best form of government. Seems to me, left on their own, the masses tend to vote for bread, circuses & some of the most asinine, restrictive laws imaginable. The latter, of course, are for the benefit of others. <sigh>

Of course, keeping an intelligent, rational & benign tyrant at the helm is tough. It seems to me that historically, they have done well with most things except succession.

Good questions, Ilyn.

Why do I need philosophy?

To have confidence that my values and goals are rational, and hence, will lead me to success and happiness; to be able to formulate and integrate principles that are logical and rooted in objective reality

--- Objective reality: things are what they are independent of consciousness

--- Logic: non-contradictory identification within the full context of one’s knowledge

To avoid helplessness when making decisions; to be free of inexplicable guilt, doubt, or fear; to have self-esteem

To save time and energy; to avoid difficulties and disappointments – if I choose realistic, logical, and integrated courses of action the first time, then I will reach my goals sooner, with less mistakes

To be able to impart knowledge rooted in objective reality and arrived at logically, especially to the innocents

*
Let’s identify our values and principles as well as the reasons behind them:

1. If offered to become king/queen of the US, would you accept? Why? Why do you think George Washington rejected and called the movement to make him king: “abhorrent”?

2. What do you think of the progressive tax? Of a flat tax? Of a flat dollar-value tax? Which do you prefer, and why?

3. Have you ever used the term “robber barons”? If yes, to whom do you refer? Why are they robber barons?

4. What do you think of “big business”? Which businessmen do you admire, and why? Which businessmen don’t you like, and why?

5. Do you prefer a mixed economy (part capitalism, part statism) over capitalism? Why?

6. Which welfare programs would you cut (or institute), and why?

7. Are you in favor of universal health care? Why? If yes, who are going to pay for it? Why should they?

8. What do you think of self-sacrifice and selfishness? Please explain.

9. Do you think heaven on Earth can be achieved when reason reigns? Why?