tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.comments2023-05-05T08:45:59.693-04:00Bastiat's CornerDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-65696121416970669242022-01-27T17:08:15.379-05:002022-01-27T17:08:15.379-05:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Charlie Lixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11578515562824368433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-72108662086125664492022-01-27T15:56:06.158-05:002022-01-27T15:56:06.158-05:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Janice Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14498771929188516325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-26183159265021986452020-08-17T11:23:57.932-04:002020-08-17T11:23:57.932-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jimmy Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14885624099171024473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-81310815378240319162020-08-17T11:15:08.459-04:002020-08-17T11:15:08.459-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kelly Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11817602408443331834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-66136061831873140912013-11-19T16:18:21.745-05:002013-11-19T16:18:21.745-05:00Don't forget The Wire!Don't forget The Wire!Derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200156962318744863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-23799244914706428822013-11-12T00:48:17.794-05:002013-11-12T00:48:17.794-05:00Since I know many people who have either dropped o...Since I know many people who have either dropped out of college and left the country or who have left the country after completely 4 years of college, none of whom entered into the American work force but rather took a totally different route in life, I think its a better idea to pay as you go for the education you're getting in the present. <br /><br />If such a program like your idea were in place, educators would be without compensation from student like the one described by me above.<br /><br />There's huge assumption that students are going to be making enough money, heck any money at all, to pay back these educators. Some simply will not. Either they will try but not find work in their fields, and many won't work in their field at all but simply do something entirely different, sometimes that does not involve working for money at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-7388951429483134652013-10-30T18:14:43.027-04:002013-10-30T18:14:43.027-04:00I agree completely. I don't think there is ro...I agree completely. I don't think there is room in my conception of "capitalism" for state-issue monopolies of any sort. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-21768011637467905902013-10-30T18:12:28.284-04:002013-10-30T18:12:28.284-04:00Yes, common sense would imply that, thank you!Yes, common sense would imply that, thank you!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-2109005348451732392013-10-30T13:15:44.371-04:002013-10-30T13:15:44.371-04:00Whats not legal in Canada it's when you brake ...Whats not legal in Canada it's when you brake a law A regulation bylaw or ordinance .<br />So the only free is in our minds. And intent is not needed nor is rationalization. Not even ignorance or lack of knowledge is an excuse to break the law. Common sense would say Do the best you can to balance common Good against The harm times the Chance of getting Caught.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01865348265314428828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-773559558340569012013-09-20T20:55:12.634-04:002013-09-20T20:55:12.634-04:00Ron Paul changed his political party affiliation b...Ron Paul changed his political party affiliation but he never changed his political philosophy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-45719721818941418672013-06-15T12:21:16.193-04:002013-06-15T12:21:16.193-04:00I think this idea is honorable and workable in man...I think this idea is honorable and workable in many respects but there is a major flaw in thinking any individual or institution has the ability "to ensure that each student achieves financial success after graduation".<br /><br />There are already a plethora of free market enterprise education systems popping up, mostly online, and especially within the tech markets. Many of them offer job placement programs as well as financial choices of payment. <br />These institutions DO have it in their best interests to not only fulfill the selling point of having you not only fully educated in the chosen field but to also help place you in employment. These education enterprises must build their reputation from past performance in order to maintain regular future enrollment. <br /><br />But it is highly flawed to think that financial success can be "guaranteed" by the school staff and then to have their financial system modelled after the notion is a further absurdity. This facet of the idea is hardly different than the promises state controlled "schooling" systems provide.<br /><br />There are two main reasons (among others) for my contention here:<br />1. The particular school which would rely upon such a method for payment for services cannot predict nor control the future of the markets.<br />2. The same school cannot predict nor control the behaviors of the individual student before, during or after the education process is performed.<br /><br />I'll add that every transaction is a two way transaction where the individuals involved are giving up something for something they value more than the article they are giving up. There is hardly an incentive within the above proposed idea of an institution to work on the mere promise that the said student is going to actually perform within the markets as well as pay the school back.<br /><br />The individual must forego future income (to pay the balance of the loan should one be necessary) or forgo money in the present in exchange for provided education. This individual's investment upon himself is the motive for future financial success and is still NO guarantee. The school can only aid in placement of employment, but guarantee nothing further.<br /><br /><br />This above proposed notion is similar to how the K-12th grade compulsory "schooling" system operates, only it is the "taxpayer" who is burdened with footing the bill and on the notion that the collective so-called "nation" has "invested" in its future by doing so.<br /><br />I think the idea is great other than the proposed financial setup. To date there are already education systems of this nature working profitably as we speak. There are even some that are open-sourced and "free" in the way that your only real payment seems to be in time waiting for help from a tutor when you are stuck on an exercise. There is ALWAYS a "price".<br />Codeacademy is one that I am using now.<br /><br />None of my comments here are meant to offend so please read with an open mind.<br /><br />:^)Slawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08295244720953518027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-24253127530686718642013-04-30T08:02:50.566-04:002013-04-30T08:02:50.566-04:00Thank you for your thoughts and for providing your...Thank you for your thoughts and for providing your blog. I appreciate that you advocate peace and equality and, as far as I can tell, a stateless society. But I am afraid we disagree on what Capitalism is and what its consequences are. I would ask you to take your own advice, because it is quite good, and step outside of your mental construct of what Capitalism is. Now keep in mind that I am referring to pure Capitalism, in which the state has no involvement or does not exist. You say that it is an unreasonable system in which money dictates everything, but would you rather everything be dictated by guns? Whether you choose to accept it or not, that is your choice. Money is what people exchange under peaceful conditions when they value each other's property. If you cannot buy something from your neighbor or he/she will not give it to you, your only recourse is to not have it or to take it by force. You say it is a system in which the greedy prosper while many are in despair, and I can see how you view it that way. But step out of your mental construct and observe that it is a system in which the productive prosper. See that the only way to become wealthy is to provide something others want. See that no one is stopped from helping those in despair, and that no one is forced to either. <br />I see Capitalism as nothing more than the emergent property of freedom broadly applied. If you abolished the state, abolished money and destroyed every ounce of gold on the planet, Capitalism (that is peaceful exchange) would reemerge with some other commodity serving as money. Take peace as your premise, and follow it to its logical conclusion. You will find I am right. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-28956378590563781792013-04-29T22:44:06.536-04:002013-04-29T22:44:06.536-04:00Everything you said makes great sense if only thin...Everything you said makes great sense if only thinking about them under the constructs of the society that has already been made up by this unreasonable system in which money dictates everything. I think if you were able to step outside of the mental confines of a world in which the greedy prosper while many are in despair, you would be able to more clearly see all of the many issues that Capitalism creates, and that there has just got to be a better way. <br />You should check out my blog too. Favorfreedom.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-29811771243622572842013-03-26T16:33:56.170-04:002013-03-26T16:33:56.170-04:00Why is it that people can only view libertarianism...Why is it that people can only view libertarianism through absolutist glasses? People, in general, rarely have huge shifts in their political beliefs, at least not rapidly. <br /><br />There are a lot of people I know (myself included) who have become more moderate/minarchist in their outlook over time (and vice versa). <br /><br />But for the most famous example of all: Ron Paul becoming a Republican after running for President as a Libertarian...hacksoncodenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-90549591866195333032013-03-26T11:34:18.687-04:002013-03-26T11:34:18.687-04:00More than that, even, is the fact that VERY few pe...More than that, even, is the fact that VERY few people who I have seen reject the paradigm has fully understood it. Perhaps 2, of all of the criticisms of Libertarianism I have read...Kevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17927063169804741510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-1161511448186331422013-03-24T14:24:55.890-04:002013-03-24T14:24:55.890-04:00I never really go into Deep Space Nine, but I'...I never really go into Deep Space Nine, but I'll take your word for it. I'm glad that perhaps someone realized how that portion of the story was missing. I agree it may have been as much of a plot device to simplify story lines as was was an idealistic view of the future, but in my mind there are just as easy work-arounds that are more realistic. For instance, when Kirk goes back to 1984 and can't pick up the bill, the lady (I forget her name) says, "I suppose you don't have money in the 23rd century either." Wouldn't it have been just as easy to say that future currency wouldn't be accepted or that it was electronic? Even the writers of Back To The Future had that figured out (Doc carried bills from different times). <br /><br />Thanks for you comments!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-77483001082461234742013-03-23T11:32:50.645-04:002013-03-23T11:32:50.645-04:00Thank God for the Ferengi! Deep Space Nine observe...Thank God for the Ferengi! Deep Space Nine observed your points and came back to reality. <br /><br />I would argue that "solving poverty" and "abolishing money" are not tied to one another. It seemed quite obvious - in the original as well as the Next - that goods and services still had value: many a favor on both shows were greased with gifts. <br /><br />There is something to the notion that abundant energy could provide for a pseudo - utopian society where at least the basics of life are accounted for, but we know that the human condition requires more than just sustenance and security: it requires fellowship, challenge and fulfillment. These more esoteric issues were the focus of STx and the "abolishment of money" served more to avoid money/wealth topics than it did to define modern civilization. Collin C. MacMillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791593038870099599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-27712766781213318622013-03-06T07:53:07.276-05:002013-03-06T07:53:07.276-05:00I'm not sure because I watched it on my DVR la...I'm not sure because I watched it on my DVR last week, but it certainly aired within the past 2-4 weeks. As to when the interview was taped, I can't be certain. It seems likely to me that they would like include libertarian types under their big tent of big government imperialism. I just don't think they expected the crowd to be so hostile to the message. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-56449161918913069032013-03-05T21:39:45.581-05:002013-03-05T21:39:45.581-05:00When did this broadcast happen? I wonder what kin...When did this broadcast happen? I wonder what kind of pressure Bolton must be under such that he would go on a show like Stossel's where he must know he's going to be severely exposed. What does that say about the people behind Bolton? Are they so concerned about the growing movement toward liberty that they'd ask/push Bolton to do this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-37861184824056954272013-03-02T16:00:21.187-05:002013-03-02T16:00:21.187-05:00Well, I would suspect that if a majority of daily ...Well, I would suspect that if a majority of daily internet users are 35-40 or less, and a significant number of people 35-40 or less have played World of Warcraft at some point, then the common use (or overuse) of "Epic", "Fail", and "Epic Fail" may be a sign that it will officially become a part of English language at some point if popularity does not decrease. I'm sure all new words and phrases were offensive at inception to some people. I'm sure not knowing the origin would have made the use of fail exceptionally annoying. I think I have just accepted it as net-speak.<br /><br />World of Warcraft has been around about a decade so far....The magic 8 ball would say "outlook not good" to the decline of "Epic Fail".PersonofInteresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004513986233168966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-25000684324070249082013-03-02T15:25:12.863-05:002013-03-02T15:25:12.863-05:00Thank you for the origin story of the phrase, and ...Thank you for the origin story of the phrase, and my quibble is not specifically that the phrase is improper English. It's overuse in everyday speech is what annoys me personally. That and the shift from failure to fail. Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-783602878217591442013-03-02T15:00:05.950-05:002013-03-02T15:00:05.950-05:00"Epic fail" is from World of Warcraft, l..."Epic fail" is from World of Warcraft, leading to both "Epic" and "Fail" individually. There are missions, and then there are "Epic" missions, or Epics, which are really long, difficult, and rewarding missions. Failing is self explanatory. So "Epic Fail" is both a failure of grand proportions and/or a failure of something grand or that could have been grand with successful completion. I don't think it was meant to be proper English. It's more like something that pops up really large on your screen to shout at your for personal failure. I hope you honestly needed an explanation and weren't being snarky. PersonofInteresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004513986233168966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-82727844477277543382013-02-17T10:16:46.348-05:002013-02-17T10:16:46.348-05:00Are "we" not composed of people? CONTRA...Are "we" not composed of people? CONTRADICTION BOMBDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-2122819296430389902013-02-17T09:42:01.589-05:002013-02-17T09:42:01.589-05:00Thanks!Thanks!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934119207879672793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6579276438498793256.post-48960843024346772582013-02-17T00:08:16.653-05:002013-02-17T00:08:16.653-05:00"As I've stated before, if you think you ..."As I've stated before, if you think you can take your neighbors' guns without one of your own, you are a fool. If you think you would be righteous in doing so with a gun of your own, you are a hypocrite."<br /><br />That's about the best way I've heard it put. Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08149420378777171423noreply@blogger.com