>It seems increasingly and screamingly obvious that it's not possible to have country-level power without any action to insert ones-self into, and assert ones power upon, the affairs of neighbouring countries in morally questionable and subversive ways. Which is just a longer way of saying: power corrupts.
I think it can be done if the country is small enough and the government itself is small enough. Even if such states do end up meddling in the affairs of neighbors they won't be able to concentrate as much wealth into these actions as larger countries can.
I'm wondering if it's a case of "idle hands are the devil's plaything", which would, as you've said, be easier for a larger country having a larger tax base and more cash-on-hand to spend on questionable pursuits.
I'm also permanently intrigued as to whether it's possible to succeed as a government without being evil. The good of the many at the expense of the few means being evil to 'the few'. Hard decisions have to be made, and when they're made they need to be committed too lest inviting insanity from constant second-guessing.
Tough gig either way, but the setting of behavioural precedents for "your people" should be of utmost consideration.
Hopefully people understand why the libertarian position makes so much sense now.
Re:Australia’s secret propaganda unit
by IntrepidWorm on Monday June 20, 2022 @02:49PM
(#31814072)
To be clear, there's many different socio-political doctrines that are inherently anti-governmental in nature, and supported by the above. Libertarianism is merely one of them.
The problem I have with this realisation, is that this kind of behaviour sets a precedent for 'acceptability' for all groups and individuals on lower rungs than government - which is everyone. No wonder governments have trouble legislating against bad corporate behaviour, because they have done, and likely are in the midst of doing, shady shit themselves of a greater scale. I feel I'm exposing a level of my own naivete, but I'm trying to convey the path from government 'bad-ness' to the current level of social and civil mistrust in government and also inward looking perspectives on any and all actions (ie. what's in it for me, fuck y'all) that's encouraged by every exposure of such government-approved actions.
You, Government, with all your power, cannot judge me, as a powerless individual member of the proletariat, as guilty and punishable for any crime lesser than that which you yourself has actively participated in and considered acceptable. The wind blows unhindered through your glass house.