I feel I should clarify my political opinions. Instead, I'm going to post about them to LiveJournal.
LOL.
The central point is that I think people should, by default, be free to do as they please.
I would say yes, but that still leaves most questions open since freedoms conflict more often than not... (eg. the freedom of a mother to choose, the freedom of a foetus to be born directly conflict, and there's no *good* answer).
I'm unsure whether I think money is unimportant, or altogether illusory. Either way, I don't feel taxation reduces freedom in any meaningful way.
Except that the less money I have, the less stuff I can afford to do. I think it's generally a good trade-off, but that is there. Sorry, I'm not helping, am I?
True, which is why I want a Big, Clever government to make the right choice in these conflicts.
the less money I have, the less stuff I can afford to do
Arguably the case below a certain income (or with certain very expensive tastes). I find, though, that what I can do is limited by time, rather than money.
Suffice it to say I like the NHS, and think we should have more of it.
Huzzah!
Either way, I don't feel taxation reduces freedom in any meaningful way.
Nor do I, especially as in a responsible government the money being taken from my wages or being added to the cost of my hypothetical Playstation games may well return to benefit me in the form of an adult education centre or a new health clinic.
Taxes still reduce people's ability to do things with their money, even if they are used sensibly. I'm just not convinced that being able to do stuff with money counts as a real freedom. Money is, after all, a lie we agree to believe, rather than anything intrinsically valuable.
Mmm, indeed - a means that became the end, in fact. It is quite possible to (and here's where I sound like a hippy) do things without spending money, or certainly without spending very *much*, after all.
I really cannot understand how on earth the ability to use your own resources as you see fit (which taxation prevents you from doing) is anything other than a type of freedom.
Taxation doesn't restrict your ability to use your resources as you see fit. It restricts your ability to spend your money as you see fit. As I mentioned, I don't really think money is important (or necessarily real).
Aditionaly the lack of taxes means that a large number of people can't use their resources how they like because they a busy dying of easily treatable conditions.
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LOL.
The central point is that I think people should, by default, be free to do as they please.
I would say yes, but that still leaves most questions open since freedoms conflict more often than not... (eg. the freedom of a mother to choose, the freedom of a foetus to be born directly conflict, and there's no *good* answer).
I'm unsure whether I think money is unimportant, or altogether illusory. Either way, I don't feel taxation reduces freedom in any meaningful way.
Except that the less money I have, the less stuff I can afford to do. I think it's generally a good trade-off, but that is there. Sorry, I'm not helping, am I?
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True, which is why I want a Big, Clever government to make the right choice in these conflicts.
the less money I have, the less stuff I can afford to do
Arguably the case below a certain income (or with certain very expensive tastes). I find, though, that what I can do is limited by time, rather than money.
Reply
Huzzah!
Either way, I don't feel taxation reduces freedom in any meaningful way.
Nor do I, especially as in a responsible government the money being taken from my wages or being added to the cost of my hypothetical Playstation games may well return to benefit me in the form of an adult education centre or a new health clinic.
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(I'll stop trolling and do some work in a minute, I promise)
Surely the freedom to use a resource as you see fit is simply the lack of freedom of someone else to use that resource as they see fit?
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Aditionaly the lack of taxes means that a large number of people can't use their resources how they like because they a busy dying of easily treatable conditions.
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