What are the responsibilities of an Objectivist government?

Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 2 months ago to Government
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I have listened to everything thing from businesses should pay no taxes to America is not a sovereign country and there should be no regulations on anything. Certainly the government has some responsibilities.


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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Good point. I'm not sure if I know the difference between a law and a regulation, but I would venture that there is one. I can say that when I used the term "regulation" I was speaking in terms of what you are allowed to do and not do with your property, and when I was speaking of law it was in the sense of what you can and can't do with other people's property.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I can hardly get people to agree with an objectivist government. I'm not going into this discussion until I've finished here.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    In my few encounters with anarchistic theory, I've noticed that anarchists tend to hold to one of two possible definitions for anarchy:

    1. Society without government.
    2. Government without leaders.

    Those who adhere to the second definition are far less common, but they do exist. What is your definition, Rozar?
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Numbers are irrelevant. What matters is whether they come in peace or in violence.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What's the difference between an elected official and an employee in a government department? Simply whether they are elected or appointed?

    Also, is the person who writes the rule really the only thing that matters?
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  • Posted by 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    How many constitutes an invasion? Do they come in one by one or by the thousands?
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  • Posted by 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Laws are approved by elected officials. Regulations are written by employees in government departments.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    From Merriam-Webster
    Anarchy:

    a : absence of government

    b : a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority

    c : a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government

    No government means no laws, and no courts and no police. That would be an environment where the "baddest ass on the block" would rule. Else, you believe your fellow humans are all pacifists.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I've never seen a piece of paper take an action (as that is all that a corporation is). Only individuals can take action.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Corporate shield. People acting in the interests of their corporation are not liable personally for their actions, rather the corporation for which they are acting is responsible.
    This is different in Europe (at least France) where the plant manager is personally liable for defects in products, and for actions taken by individuals working for the company if directed by leadership to perform actions (not for independent actions of each individual, just for what they are told to do).
    Thus, the plant manager who dumped toxic chemicals into a stream without a corporate shield would be individually liable for that action, whereas under a corporate shield, only the company is responsible.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The government would have to auction off any public land it owned to private companies, while anyone who had vested interests could contribute to the contract the winning company would have to sign before purchasing the land.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I disagree. The actions that a company or corporation takes should be considered separate from the actions of individuals.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What is a statist government, and how does it differ from a Constitutional government? Or does it differ at all? Could all governments be considered statist, even small ones?
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That's pretty brilliant. A private company could make decent money investigating chemicals and their effects. They could sell both their research and stamps of approval to other companies who use the chemicals they've researched. They would have a lot riding on whether the public could trust their stamp or not and it would benefit such a company to be extremely accurate.

    Also, whether you tested for hazards or not, in an objectivisy government you would be punished. Probably more so for doing something so obviously risky with complete negligence.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    How is it possible for elected officials to legislate what punishment should be imposed on people who violate the law if there is zero regulation on any individual or business? Aren't "law" and "regulation" simply two different words for the same thing – that is, a rule established by the government specifying a particular action which may not be preformed?
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    But if you believe in anarchy, you are de facto counting on the actions of your fellow man to be non-aggressive. I say that history shows this to be foolhardy.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The purpose of a standing military is to guard against the potential invasion of foreign nations.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I meant to come off as asking whether rlewellen can think for themselves. You might cite what AR has to say, but that is not the source of "absolute truth."
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    So, you are saying that only what AR had to say about Objectivism is valid and is the last word? I say think for yourself.
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