EDU: Public Schools (Was: Re: [extropy-chat] Gametheoryofcommoncold)

Reason reason at exratio.com
Tue Jan 20 08:01:18 UTC 2004



> -----Original Message-----
> From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
> [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org]On Behalf Of Harvey
Newstrom

> Samantha Atkins wrote,
> > > As far as I am concerned, I am taking money from the community rather
> > > than the community taking money from me.  I don't mind giving
> a little
> > > of it back.
> >
> > I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that your life,
> > career, works, example, spending and creating (non-exhaustive
> > list) already give back amply to your community and beyond it.
>
> You are not mistaken.  We are very active in volunteer work and spend huge
> amounts on various charities we support.  This attitude is only possible
> because we believe in our community and in helping others.  If I were a
> bitter old Libertarian clutching my gun and grumping about all taxes being
> theft, I would be so busy wallowing in my self-pity and victim mentality
> that I would not give back anything to anyone.  It is this very
> fact that I
> have been blessed in my life that empowers me to help others.  If I really
> felt that I had to claw and scratch out every single penny with
> no help from
> anyone, seeing the government and social institutions as enemies, I would
> bury all my money in the back yard and never help anyone.

That's you. I am a bitter libertarian, view government and social
institutions as an ongoing, death-dealing disaster of unprincipled
selfishness, power abuse and irresponsibility, and I expend a great deal of
my remaining resources in helping people. The "community" - meaning whatever
special interests are diverting my taxes into their pockets right now - is
writing itself a wonderful deal by screwing people like me. The actual
community doesn't do so well.

Reason
http://www.exratio.com




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