brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (08/18/84)
I find some of the attitudes expressed here by Ian! and Martin to be rather distressing. You say you're willing to pay a little more to ensure equal service and prices in the boondocks. That is very good. I am sure the people out there appreciate it. But how does one get the conclusion you draw, that since you think it's right to pay extra, you have the right to force everybody else to do this same? I assume you think it's right that since many people don't agree with abortion, they have the right to force others not to have them? I assume you think it's right that since many think it's a sin to be a non-catholic, they have the right to insist you go to mass? You probably don't, but it's the same thing. I'm not promoting or disputing the value of transport and telephone subsidies, perhaps they are quite useful and perhaps they are not. BUT WHERE DO YOU GET THE RIGHT TO FORCE THAT OPINION ON EVERYBODY ELSE??? I strongly believe that moral convictions aren't worth talking about if you aren't willing to pay, both materially and spiritually for them. You want to support the boondocks? DO SO. But do so with your money, and don't come to me with a gun (as you do) and insist I do so as well. If I want to contribute, I will. If I don't, I won't. All of you who want to support something, but insist on getting others to pay for it since you don't want to pay the whole cost yourself have valueless moral convictions, if you agree with my premise that people should be responsible for their morals. ---------------- Point #2 - Companies don't do anything for society, they just work for profit. You just don't understand capitalism if you say something like this. The very essence of capitalism is *free trade*. When a capitalist makes a bundle he trades something for it. And furthermore, members of society obviously feel that what they got was worth the money, or else why did they trade it? So the capitalist works for his own profit, but unlike the government, he can't just print money making everybody else's less valuable. He has to provide something in return. So society never loses unless there is fraud, and in that case society is justified in punishing the fraud. Similarly, society can pushish physical affronts like pollution and the use of violence. ---------------- Point #3 - Taxation is not theft. If you can say this, then please tell me your (I suspect rather odd) definition of theft. To me theft occurs when some party takes the property of another without that party's permission, and in particular under the explicit or implicit threat of physical violence. "It's for your own good and the good of society," says the taxman. "Says who?" "Says me and the socialists you elected." "I never voted for them and gave them permission to do this." "But the majority did!" "OK. You outnuber me. That's usually how it works in looting." -- Brad Templeton - Waterloo, Ontario (519) 884-7473