Let's try make this more of a sciency sort of thread where we discuss actual studies, as opposed to debating capitalism vs. socialism. As I mentioned months ago, my leanings these days are more libertarian, especially after becoming disappointed with the New Zealand left .. once they began to parrot anti-immigrant sentiments in response to rising costs of housing, rising poverty, unemployment, etc. (It's come to the point where, if you're pro-immigration, that means you're automatically a neo liberal conservative who believes in importing cheap labour in order to deprive those born in New Zealand of the jobs they deserve...). Having said that, inequality will always be an issue that is very important to me. You can't have freedom in an economically unequal society.. that doesn't work.
Freedom breeds economic inequality. Let us make a distinction between inequality of outcome and inequality of opportunity.
So until everyone has the same amount of money, a society is never free? By that definition, no society ever has been free. It is perfectly normal for people in free societies to have varying amounts of money among them, as income is earned based on skills, demand, and the time and effort put into generating that income. The doctor who spent twenty years in school should get compensated for his/her skills and labor more than a couch potato who never picked up a book or learned a skill. Considering that people are individuals with individual thoughts and choices, in a truly free society they would freely exercise those choices and this would logically lead to different financial outcomes. I would argue that economic mobility instead of blunt numeric equality, should be the staple of any modern society, meaning people can actually better their economic circumstance within that society through proven steps like education and perseverance. Freedom seems much better represented when people are allowed to make their own choices with their own outcomes, not when everyone is leveled to "economically equal".
^ That is essentially the difference I pointed out. Outcomes vs opportunity. Freedom assure you the latter, not the former. I would like there to be less disparity, but I don't want it engineering into any corruptible system, but I would like the advantages that they now possess to be eliminated.
On the contrary, if you want people to be truly equal, they cannot be free. If they are free, they will not be equal. Mutually exclusive conditions.
Thats right, the weak justify the strong ! This is why communism will never work, nobody is happy with what their neighbor has ! Sent from my SM-J700P using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Republican policy breeds inequality that why the most miserable states to live in when it comes to quality of life are RED, Republican controlled states. [
democrats use inequality to divide people and to fool their constituents into thinking they are actually doing something. they have all this power to do something, but instead they always blame the other guy instead of making things better, or improving conditions, they keep the issue alive so they can continue their livelihood republicans,more like conservatives, believe in a limited government that has less power and the people have all the freedom they want to do whatever they want. they also want less regulations and taxes so the people will have the ability to afford things easier i live in texas. been here a long time and i am always grateful i am not in my old state, which is a democratic state. and going to shit. you may have heard about its capital, hartford. i am happy to be here the reason some of you may be miserable is because your leaders, the people you look up to, are telling you its ok to be ashamed and miserable and that you are a victim
Texas— On an annual basis, no state arrests and criminally prosecutes more of its citizens for pot than does Texas. Marijuana arrests comprise over half of all annual arrests in the Lone Star State. It is easy to see why. In 2009, more than 97 percent of all Texas marijuana arrests — over 77,000 people — were for possession only. Those convicted face up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine, even upon a first conviction. Visit Texas for vacation, leave Texas on probation.
You need to read "The Road to Serfdom". Think about it, Ms. Libertarian, if men/women were left to their own devices without government restriction do you think their skills and effort will move them towards equality? Even if our jobs paid us equally, if I come home from mine and...say we both started with the same structure, but I work at upgrading my house and tending my garden while you stop at the pub and drink and play pulltabs until you come home to sleep. Should there be no reward for my choices and effort? Sorry, but your final statement is silly and far from "sciency".
Very well said. This is definitely an argument about equity in opportunity, not outcome. My question is do you think citizens have freedom? There are people here who claim to be enslaved because they "have" to work a 9-5, so do you think we are free? And if the answer is no, then is there no equity in opportunity since it can only be obtained with freedom?
yea so basicly, dont get caught with weed in texas. especially in la. any amount there is a FELONY. at least in texas u need more then a quarter pound for a felony. i got arrested twice, for less then a gram each time, and ended up doing probation, jail time and every single little bullshit thing that comes along with it. even had my licence suspended for a year and i was notified of that susspension six months into it lol really hoping they legalize it, but i am expecting texas to be the last state to do it it is one of the things that has opened my eyes and taught me to think out of the box and not like they have tried to conform me to like i said, i am grateful, and proud, to live in texas. there are a few other states that may be "better" but not many that are... i notice alot of democrat lead states are legalizing mmj....interesting if you think about it...the state is eventually going to fail, but everyone will be high or fucked up on pills and no one is going to care...
I like the way Texas does gun rights and harsh punishment of violent crime. Their harsh enforcement of drug prohibition seems to be an extension of their hard line against crime in general. So once people accept the drug war has failed and legalize all drugs and start treating addiction as the medical issue it is, this wouldn't be an issue. A crime has to have a victim to be a crime.
More gymnastics. Treat it like a medical issue? Here some reality for you. Texas is the uninsured capital of the United States. More than 4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance. Texas' uninsurance rates, 1.75 times the national average, create significant problems in the financing and delivery of health care to all Texans. Those who lack insurance coverage typically enjoy far-worse health status than their insured counterparts.
No offense dude but most of your posts sound like you're just repeating talking points from somewhere. There's zero mental gymnastics in what I said. Keep the gun rights and harsh punishment for violent criminals, stop arresting people for victimless drug offenses. Not sure how you segue that into health insurance stats.