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Who is it that is expecting a free ride?

Posted by kevinw 9 years, 11 months ago to Politics
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In a recent discussion about patriotism on a post by Abaco here; http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/2e... khalling linked to this Atlas Society video of Alexander Cohen making the case for patriotism as a virtue that Objectivists could embrace; http://www.atlassociety.org/as/john-galt...

That conversation tended to revolve around the vague definition and how people would apply it (or not) to their lives and Mr. Cohen expressed a definition of patriotism that I would much rather have as the standard. But what caught my attention in the video was Cohen's point that people who enjoy the advantages of the system we were left with by the founding fathers but are not willing to put forth the effort to protect it or improve it are, essentially, expecting a free ride. I personally know several people who are completely willing to pick up a gun and fight but will not lift a finger, nor spare a moment's thought on how to stop it before it comes to that. Not even vote. I would say that they don't even truly understand what it is that they would be laying down their lives for.

We've all heard (possibly even said) the phrase "if you don't vote, you can't complain". Now I'm wondering, is voting even enough? Obviously any idiot can vote.

All Comments

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  • Posted by jimslag 9 years, 11 months ago
    I am a firm believer that everyone should have skin in the game. That if you pay taxes then you can vote, if you don't, then no vote. Of course that would rely on data input from the IRS. Yes, the very same group that cannot find emails to or from an individual who no longer works for them. Or is responsible for an IT department in it's agency that cannot keep a computer up and running. I have a computer that with just a few upgrades over the years, has been running pretty much non-stop for about 8 years now. Yes, my hard drive has crashed but I did NOT lose any of my data and I am sure they employ individuals who are more computer savvy than I am. It is sad that we have an administration (not just this one), who is incompetent as the IRS is. Oh wait, there is the EPA, FCC, SEC, Education, Energy and Homeland Security to contend for that title.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 9 years, 11 months ago
    The first responsibility we have is to educate ourselves. Read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and actually study what they mean. Then you'll be prepared to look at all of the systematic divergences from that intent.

    The second responsibility is to help educate others. Being on this forum is a great start, but don't be afraid to call in to radio programs, write letters to elected representatives, write editorials to newspapers, and post to social media sites.

    Third, VOTE! Talk is cheap - vote with your feet! No, the choices aren't all perfect, but realize that on average only 1 in 3 Americans votes - especially in local elections. Your vote is actually worth at least TWO and frequently THREE votes. Don't let someone else vote for you.
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  • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 11 months ago
    first off i did not vote for years and was always told if you don't vote you can't complain. my response was i pay taxes so i have every right to voice my opinion. if one does not work and contribute to the government with tax dollars they have no right to vote or voice an opinion for that matter.
    those you mention who are willing to fight might just want the excuse to kill someone if they don't know why they are fighting. they more than likely will not fight because a bad society is to them better than dying trying to preserve a good society which we do not have today anyway. i am not so sure we have a large population of patriots today, for if we did they would have stormed the bastile by now.
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  • Posted by kevinw 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yeah, tough call. How to put it out there so it can be absorbed without "preaching". Different minds will react differently, from total rejection to eager engagement. I'm no teacher, that's for sure. And unless it's a philosophy class learning Objectivism is not what they are in your room for, so some way to put it out there in a positive light or show the benefits of its application. It would have to be a choice made on their own but knowing they do have that choice is a big advantage.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    And indeed some of them have begun to ask questions, and several have gone to Galt's Gulch Online.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Part of gaining knowledge in any system is exposure to its conclusions. The trouble is you have to learn how the system works, the foundations on which conclusions derive in order to accept or reject those conclusions. Most people don 't want to work at that and the minute they face contradictions they reject or they find elaborate workarounds to incorporate their own beliefs. I think exposure is enough. Serious students will begin to ask questions.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 11 months ago
    As in Objectivism, people like to refer to themselves as patriots without doing the work required. It starts by thinking through some foundational principles : what are rights? Where do they come from? There is no shortcut thinking here. If more "patriots " would simply do the mental work here, they would better understand the Constitution, thereby the importance of its preservation and the shocking violation of rights our govt is committing against its citizens.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Do I need to reach their minds with Objectivism, or do they need to come to the conclusions of Objectivism on their own? This is the debate I have been having with myself recently.
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  • Posted by kevinw 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What an incredible opportunity to spark some interest among young minds. I wonder what percentage of them understand what an evil democracy really is.

    Many minds must be reached.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes, I am a professor at a non-tenure-granting, private university called Florida Tech. This is the first year that I can say that I intentionally incorporated AR into the classroom, although I have espoused many of her values my entire life. For example, when confronted with a cheating scandal this semester, I wrote (with acknowledgment), "No one gets to this place by faking reality in any way whatsoever."

    I have sold two companies I co-founded as a "partial shrug", but I will readily admit that my professorship position is as optimal a shrug job as I could ever hope for.
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  • Posted by kevinw 9 years, 11 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Aren't you a teacher? College or ??? By incorporating Objectivism into your classroom in any small way you are probably doing more to support the ideals of America and the American sense of life than most people. If it is going to be saved it will be through education about Objectivism. Were you a "student of Objectivism" in 1985?
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    Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 11 months ago
    My willingness to protect and improve the US is proportional to its willingness to stand up to its ideals. Right now the Divided Tyranny of AmeЯika is not worth supporting. I have voted third party for president ever since I was able to vote for president in 1985.

    The vote has lost its meaning since voting was permitted by those who do not own property. Now moochers routinely vote for moochers to more than cancel my vote. Democracy is an evil that America's founders warned against.
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