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 khalling 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    point for calling winter a smartypants.
    I'm good with a republic and electoral college. you have to have procedural appointed jusdicial, you have to have a procedural legislature, basic infrastructure, limited law enforcement, military-big warning about standing. That's it. everything is capped by violation of natural rights. If it violates, it can't be instituted-but at great cost, must be protected.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Well, smarty pants, how about the use of the military, or the functioning of the courts?

    Unless you advocate total anarchy, then there must be some communal resources that are to be managed. I say that true democracy is unwieldy and leads to the tyranny of the majority. Thus, representatives are required. And I would propose that having those reps elected by the people at large, is the logical method to do so.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    They undoubtedly perceive actions of force or fraud to be in their selfish interest, otherwise they likely would not have committed same. Thus, yes, their perception of the action does in fact matter.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What would you call it? Besides, morality is determined by the individual. It is merely convenient that most of us have Venn diagrams of morality with a lot of overlap, but not 100%.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    1. I'm not an Objectivist.
    2. How do you determine whether the potential immigrant is going to be productive or not? If productivity is your standard, I challenge you to determine such a priori.
    3. I do not presume to be able to predict whether an immigrant is going to be productive or not during the immigration process, although I would expect that some criteria would exist to attempt to discern same. BUT, if they are not productive after being allowed to immigrate, then I would deport them.
    4. Your proposition that all should be able to cross borders at their whim is farcical. You want to allow Polio and Tuberculosis carriers to enter the country? How about mass murderers? Truly foolish.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I do mean government owned, and the only reason they get to contribute to the matter is because the current owner, the government, doesn't actually exist but pretends to represent the people. So in a convoluted way the people own the land and it's right for them to have a say in who the buyer is, rather than some elected official who is more susceptible to mistakes and corruption.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm sorry to hear that, I can only imagine how hard something like that can be. But congratulations on your success.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The quick answer is that you don't. If the government asks for the money and not enough individuals feel the need to invest then the government has to cut back its budget. However it's worth noting that such a situation may be avoidable through

    1. People not paying enough, things get underfunded, shit hits the fan, and people decide to pay a little more.
    Repeat until balance occurs.

    2. The government can issue certificates of contribution, or a receipt, for donations. This creates a larger incentive for big business to contribute, as they can use it as a marketing strategy. They do the same thing with charities.

    3. The richest people have the most to lose and will be the first to need a police system and military. This creates an actual incentive for them to pay more instead of having any loop holes.

    4. The government can publish what the money is going to be used for so that anyone willing to contribute can see where their money is going. You can even have a private business dedicated to scrutinizing the budget and making it's own recommendations.

    There may be more answers, but I think the current answer, force them to pay at gun point, is the worst answer you could think of to pay for something.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Correct.

    Well, can a peace of legislation differ from a government mandate? I think they're the same.
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  • Posted by $ winterwind 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    By "public land" do you mean government-owned?

    It sounds a bit convoluted that people who do not own something get to decide requirements the potential buyer has to meet. Hmmm. More thought later, have to go.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That makes me happy :) whenever someone says the government is necessary for one thing or another I always enjoy trying to find a solution that doesn't involve force, it's nice when my solution is already there haha.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Omg that's horrific! But I do agree for the most part, however life itself is a risk and the individual should be allowed to make his own judgement on how much research is enough.
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  • Posted by $ winterwind 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I will. It will have to be later tonight or tomorrow; I have tickets to the ballet. I will be willing to discuss anything on the subject of breast cancer, with you &/or with her.
    Gilda Radner, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, said it was like finding out that you are a member of a club you never wanted to join.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    In this context the Lake is public land being auctioned off, so with your vested interest you can lobby and vote on what requirements a private entity will have to meet to be able to make a bid on the land.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Please post that. I have a friend who just got diagnosed with breast cancer and it is located near her arm pit.
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  • Posted by $ winterwind 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Huzzah for putting the question so simply!

    Now, let's examine your premise. "Somebody needs to make decisions" about WHAT? [gee, I'd like to have an underline function; that's not yelling, it's emphasis.]
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