The libertarian or classical liberal philosophy is mainly divided between the advocates of anarchy and minarchy. The latter advocates "limited/minimal government". I belong to the latter philosophy. I believe there is one important function for government, and that is to promulgate the rule of law when non-government and civil society form of arbitration fails.
Nonoy
Oplas Hi David, how do you reconcile supporting low taxes with
abolition of government? cheers.
David
E. Shellenberger Hi Nonoy. I favor a tax rate of zero.
Nonoy
Oplas I know, I also support the abolition of income tax but I can
tolerate a consumption tax to support limited government. In your case, you
support zero government, right?
David
E. Shellenberger Right. And I consider taxation theft.
Nonoy
Oplas Right, so why did you bother to post a news on low-tax when
it is still means low-theft?
David
E. Shellenberger Nonoy, I'd prefer to post an article about a
country having abolished the government. Pending that good news, the story at
least shows that lower taxes are better than higher taxes. As the article
notes, the US has the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world.
Once you come over to the bright side of anarchism, let's
free the Phillipines.
Nonoy
Oplas In my experience, just to keep government stay its size as
big as last year is already very hard. Wishing for minarchy is almost
impossible but there is hope. Wishing for anarchy is... well, , like wishing
anarchists to love socialism, so far out
David
E. Shellenberger I speak to the ideal. My view is that, when folk
advocate for minarchism, they offer false legitimacy to the state.
Nonoy
Oplas The same feeling I get. When people advocate for anarchism,
they never engage government in any policy dialogue (why would one dialogue
with an institution that he wants to be abolished), government keeps expanding
each year. They are great allies of state expansion.
David
E. Shellenberger Nonoy, engaging the government to ask it to get
smaller is like speaking with the mafia and asking it to downsize. Government
is like slavery. We shouldn't accommodate it--just get rid of it.
Saying that anarchists are allies of state expansion is
like blaming abolitionists for slavery.
Nonoy
Oplas You're wrong David. In 2009, there was drug price control
policy here. Some politicians and socialists were jumping with joy. All the
local players, multinational and innovator pharma, even small drugstores,
complained. Anyway, the populists wanted to expand the list of medicines for
price control. There were several dialogues and discussions. The plan to expand
the list was killed. If the plan is to boycott dialogue with government, the
list of government-controlled medicine prices, the power of govt, should be
larger by now. That is why a dialogue with govt is necessary, you just wish is
to stay at its size, if not become smaller whenever possible. To argue for zero
accommodation, zero engagement with government, is formula for government to
keep expanding without limit.
David
E. Shellenberger Nonoy, there is the occasional improvement. But
to expect government--which is a criminal enterprise, to accommodate the public
interest is a mistake. Efforts are better directed towards educating people
that government is illegitimate and should be abolished.
Nonoy, you're welcome to quote me. I write for the
public. Here are resources: http://www.daveshellenberger.com/?s=anarchy.
Recent article by Robert Higgs:
blog.independent.org
I can understand why someone might embrace classical
liberalism. I did so myself...See More
Nonoy
Oplas Good luck to wishing for government abolition. Thanks for
the permission to quote.
Here's my latest debate with some health socialists here. They want more and more government intervention. I am a member of the advisory Council to hear these kinds of concerns and lobbying, I shoot down their "more intervention please" lobbying, they keep silent after, http://funwithgovernment.blogspot.com/2013/06/drug-price-control-32-policeman-of.html
Here's my latest debate with some health socialists here. They want more and more government intervention. I am a member of the advisory Council to hear these kinds of concerns and lobbying, I shoot down their "more intervention please" lobbying, they keep silent after, http://funwithgovernment.blogspot.com/2013/06/drug-price-control-32-policeman-of.html
