Re:Why Inequality Matters
by jeffdavis on Thursday October 16, 2014 @05:16PM
(#8467795)
I disagree, but I upvoted because I think it perfectly highlights the real difference of opinion.
When you say "disarm", you really mean "disarm all but the state". That is very scary to any libertarian-leaning people, even if you are using the word figuratively. It makes sense only if you if you believe the government is so nearly perfect that other influence is counterproductive.
Imagine if only the government had enough resources for science? Or worse, nobody could afford to make their political message heard, so only incumbants are viable?
No large state has shown that it deserves that much power. I'd rather see a bunch of ads I disagree with than see no non-state messages. I'd rather that some non-state actors had enough resources to try an ambitious project that is politically unpopular (think stem cells a decade ago).
When you say "disarm", you really mean "disarm all but the state". That is very scary to any libertarian-leaning people, even if you are using the word figuratively. It makes sense only if you if you believe the government is so nearly perfect that other influence is counterproductive.
Imagine if only the government had enough resources for science? Or worse, nobody could afford to make their political message heard, so only incumbants are viable?
No large state has shown that it deserves that much power. I'd rather see a bunch of ads I disagree with than see no non-state messages. I'd rather that some non-state actors had enough resources to try an ambitious project that is politically unpopular (think stem cells a decade ago).