1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. LIVE WATCH EVENT
    The NBA Draft is here! Come join Clutch in the ClutchFans Room Wednesday night at 6:30pm CT as we host the live online NBA Draft Watch Party. Who will the Rockets select at #3?

    NBA Draft - LIVE!

Why politicians hate libertarians

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by AroundTheWorld, Nov 25, 2023.

  1. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2001
    Messages:
    43,756
    Likes Received:
    25,680
    I think libertarianism as a party would work if they campaign on slashing departments and headcount AND stick to it as a measure of success. It would be a total baton pass because it'd be massively unpopular and the scapegoat for any failure

    It would rustle many jimmies, but no department will responsibly claim they dont need the money on good harvest years and will fight tooth and nail during belt tightening years.

    Use that money or lose it.

    Ofc, when an American libertarian does manage to steal or sucker their way into office, they decide staying in power is more worth it than practicing their ideals.

    Use that power for self gain or lose it.

    Wishing Milei all the best. He might be a crazy b*stard, but he's better than what Argentina has been working with for generations.
     
  2. Nook

    Nook Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    54,934
    Likes Received:
    115,759
    Libertarians are foolish.
     
  3. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2000
    Messages:
    70,319
    Likes Received:
    48,147
    I think very few people subscribe to a school of thought of libertarianism where government doesn't exist at all. That would be anarchy. But government bureaucracy is expansionist by its very nature.

    Other than military and police and (most) roads, I would argue that most services benefit from private competition. Government bureaucracy is rarely the best or most efficient way to get things done.

    What's child like is actually to have a very simplistic view of the world and not to realize that there is a lot of nuance between "no government at all = anarchy" and a sprawling bureaucracy that keeps raising taxes but is actually highly inefficient in doing the most basic jobs of government, like ensuring public safety (see: parts of California).
     
  4. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    124,653
    Likes Received:
    33,690
    You are right and you are wrong.

    When 11 companies own all the others there is no more competition - monopolies are unchecked capitalism which leads to Oligarchy - which is where we are....

    Government now is paid to support business, NOT THE PEOPLE it is supposed to govern.

    We need to break up the 11 companies get back to taxing corporations at a 50+% on profit, eliminate buy backs, eliminate lobbying if any money is involved, and eliminate insider trading for congress.

    We are upside down, we are in the Robber Barron era part 2.......we need to break out of that before the public rebels and starts lopping off the heads of those that are exploiting the workers.

    Unchecked capitalism is just as bad as Facism or Communism - government should be checking capitalism - that is it's job.

    When 6 people have more money than the rest of the 330million that is a problem.

    DD
     
  5. Space Ghost

    Space Ghost Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    15,462
    Likes Received:
    6,452
    You're describing an anarchist. Libertarians are not anarchist
     
    AroundTheWorld likes this.
  6. CCorn

    CCorn Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2010
    Messages:
    21,529
    Likes Received:
    21,412
    You ever been to a libertarian convention? They boo people that believe blind people should not be able to drive a vehicle.
     
  7. Space Ghost

    Space Ghost Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    15,462
    Likes Received:
    6,452
    How do you get a monopoly when there are 11 companies?

    Whatever your twisted definition of a monopoly is, that is ultimately not the problem. The bigger issue is these companies have significant lobbing power and have continuously pushed garbage food into all of our food chains touting it as healthy food. (Never doubt the authoritarians, they know everything, ammirite?)
     
  8. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2000
    Messages:
    70,319
    Likes Received:
    48,147
    Sounds crazy...no, I haven't.
     
  9. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2000
    Messages:
    70,319
    Likes Received:
    48,147
    I am in favour of competition, and therefore of antitrust laws.
     
  10. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2001
    Messages:
    15,301
    Likes Received:
    2,267
    I see you decided to ignore that actual counter to what you posted, admitted that you were arguing against an argument I never made, and then doubled down on your nonsense that businesses can somehow demand people spend 10.5 hours a day devoted to someone else's profit motive. How about, instead, businesses offer work on transparent conditions and people can choose to accept that work under those conditions or reject it and find another employer? When was the last time there were massive riots over the prevailing wage at HEB when there is sub 4% unemployment?
     
  11. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    48,464
    Likes Received:
    37,249
    Can people "choose"? Can someone just find a plop of land if they don't have capital and do their own subsistence living without being labeled a vagrant and not chose to be employed?
     
  12. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2001
    Messages:
    15,301
    Likes Received:
    2,267
    Yes, you can choose not to work at HEB. Over 99% of Americans don't work at HEB. You can't legally/morally choose to be a squatter on someone else's property, but if you can find some unclaimed land, go for it. Most people are able to find a job that are really trying and then agree to work X hours for Y wage or salary. It is called the labor market. I know you commies hate the labor market, but it seems to have a pretty decent track record.
     
  13. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2000
    Messages:
    70,319
    Likes Received:
    48,147
  14. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    55,293
    Likes Received:
    43,638
    Libertarians aren’t anarchists and libertarians do recognize a need for government primarily to protect contracts and property.

    The problem though is that limiting government regulation to those things usually leads to robber barons, massive wealth inequality and poor health and environment. This is what the US was back when it was run far closer to what libertarians advocate.

    Yes burdensome regulations are problematic and a centralized planned economy becomes very inefficient and corrupt. Both too much regulation and too little regulation is a problem.
     
  15. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    55,293
    Likes Received:
    43,638
    This is why I still think that anyone who reads Atlas Shrugged should also be required to read Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now