nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken) (07/11/85)
Mike Sykora, when you complain about the US paying for the defense of Europe and Japan, you sound dumb. Please remember that, by a treaty we imposed upon Japan in 1945, Japan can NOT maintain a large standing military force. (I think this a good thing, if current trade practices continued, AND Japan was building a large military, then I would fear for political stability in the Pacific.) Military expenditures in Europe are comparable to military expenditures in the United States for CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE. European countries are not expecting to fight "one and one half wars" anywhere in the world, their forces are meant first and foremost for defense of Western Europe. They may not spend enough, but for conventional defense, we may not, either. The European defense expenditures are a smaller part of the budget, because the Europeans do not object to paying more taxes for the benefit of the society at large. You see, the Europeans feel that the gov't should have a greater role in the caring for those less fortunate than people in the United States. This is a humanitarian form of democratic socialism as advocated by A. W. Benn, MP (Lab Chesterfield). (See "Arguements for Socialism") The Libertarians beleive the exact opposite, in fact they can be summed up as "Me first", at least that is the jist I have gotten from their postings on the net. The philosophy being that people will be willing to help others without coercion. That is pure bunk. The Reaganomists said that with more money int he hands of people, more money would be given to charities. Why is it that charities are getting even less now than in 1980? Probably because people get less back from the gift now, because the tax rates are lower, the deduction is worth less. Charities fear the new tax plan of Reagan, because it will remove almost all incentives for philanthropy. Libertarianism will continue the how does it benefit me type philosophy, and, in that system, philanthropy will hurt the giver, after all, in a pure Darwinian world, why hamper your means of survival? -- James C Armstrong, Jnr. ihnp4!abnji!nyssa "Congratulations, Sir, You survived the vote!" (What story was that? Who said it?)
mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) (07/13/85)
>/* nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken) / 7:44 am Jul 11, 1985 */ >Mike Sykora, when you complain about the US paying for the defense of >Europe and Japan, you sound dumb. Thanks for the insightful and constructive criticism. I expect it will help me no end in formulating my opinions. >The Libertarians beleive the exact opposite, in fact they can be summed >up as "Me first", at least that is the jist I have gotten from their >postings on the net. The postings on the net do not provide sufficient information to get even a fundamental understanding of libertarianism (or socialism, etc.). Try a book on the subject. >James C Armstrong, Jnr. ihnp4!abnji!nyssa Mike Sykora