Re:Sacrificing everything for my dog. How I became a programmer
by beat on Monday June 24, 2013 @12:01PM
(#5933748)
Sadly, that's the exception rather than the rule for libertarians (I say this as a left libertarian). Far too many self-styled libertarians are convinced they'd be rich if they weren't being held down by taxes and regulation. Sigh.
What I've started telling every single one who parrots this nonsense - "Show me an onerous regulation that causes real pain for individuals and businesses, and I'll show you an opportunity for a REAL entrepreneur to get rich by making their lives easier." For all the talk of entrepreneurial spirit among right-libertarians, they have shockingly little faith in the capabilities of entrepreneurs to turn other people's problems into business opportunities.
Re:Sacrificing everything for my dog. How I became a programmer
by MereInterest on Monday June 24, 2013 @02:08PM
(#5934621)
If you define theft as non-voluntary taking, then I would argue that theft is not always unethical. The traditional example is that of a father stealing bread to feed his children. I would not call this to be unethical. Why, then, would I call it unethical to steal of funds to feed a nation?
But there's an entirely different philosophy out there. Taxes, which are non-voluntary by nature, are theft and therefore unethical. It's hard for many to conceptualize, but you can actually help the poor and those causes you care about and be anti-tax. It's not like we're a bunch greedy bastards. We just think voluntary society and government is the more ethical path.