[ExI] Yet another health care debate.

[Lee Corbin]

Damien S writes

> On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 06:31:07PM -0700, Lee Corbin wrote:
> 
>> even the state knows all and sees all---the difference is that
>> most people on the list (now, sadly)  want government *policy*
>> to entitle everyone to at least food, clothing, and shelter.)
> 
> Has this list shifted to the left in recent months?  Last few times I
> was dipping in it seemed even more extremely libertarian than in years
> past, with you, Rafal, and Samantha Atkins holding the line against
> government ever being useful for anything.

Like an earlier post of yours that I haven't had time to
address (with all due respect), you do seem a bit guilty
of violating one of Fred's axioms, to wit, overstating
the views of they who disagree with you.

Under *no* circumstance have I ever said in the last
years (or ever) that the government is useful for nothing.
I have *always* maintained that the government is
absolutely necessary for 

(1)  national defense (including serious border patrol)
(2)  establishment of national laws concerning democratic
      practices (e.g. guarantees that although they may
      allow infanticide, say (by my lights) in some particular
      state (say Utah), and may (by my lights) decide to ban
      all pornography there (unwisely IMO), the *democratic*
      political process in Utah and the *freedom of political
      expression* (disincluding silly stuff like flag burning,
      etc.) MUST not be allowed by the federal government to be
      abolished in Utah, nor may Utah violate the constitution's
      Bill of Rights (narrowly but literally interpreted) 
(3)  court system and use of force to enforce contracts,
      establish rule of law, and protect private property
(4)  tax collection to finance at least (1), and more likely
(5)  infrastructure support (e.g. early in the 19th century
      to build a road across the Appalachians)
(6)  (most likely) SEC control (although I would indeed
      allow Rafal to correct me on this---and then my faith
      would invariably waver, we not being, in my opinion
      quite as culturally advanced as he's hoping for)
(7)  Center for Disease Control

and probably a lot more if I had time.

Lee

P.S. And how dare you lump Rafal (who won't even
     allow infanticide) and Samantha Atkins as
     approximately as right than I am. I claim
     to be more right than any other regular
     poster on this list.