- Capitalism and Alternatives -

Premises

Posted by: David ( USA ) on October 19, 1999 at 10:54:19:

I have been reading the posts in this forum for quite some time, responding occasionally (usually tongue-in-cheek). I have found the socialists on this board quite learned and very difficult to refute (even though I know, by golly, that they are wrong!)and bring up interesting points worth consideration.
However, when stripped of all of its rhetoric we find the premises of the arguments. Whatever the topic is in relation to socialism, there is always one basic premises. This premise I find hard to make manifest. There are many ways to say it, but each one has its own separate connotation.
This one seems to fit nicely: Each man is his brother's keeper.
It is this premise that is at the base of all the arguments for socialism. I disagree vehemently with that premise. I consider it to be evil and destructive. Man is an end unto himself. Man has no "original sin" that would dictate that he look after the well being of another man. That is why I oppose anything that stems from that premise. Even though I do not feel a moral obligation nor a personal one to defend my viewpoints, I do so because I find it very interesting and it is a good mental excercise. Besides, debate is often very good for perfecting ones ideas.
I wish this forum were less factional, where it seems like a huge bitter struggle between Capitalism and Socialism et al.
I look forward to more debate.

Follow Ups:

'Brother's Keeper'?---I think not! Stoller October 20 1999 (48)
- problems of conflict Gee si October 20 1999 (21)
  - The People Near the Forest Barry Stoller October 20 1999 (17)
    - wood folk Gee si October 21 1999 (16)
      - Do the Wood Folk live near Everest by any chance? Barry Stoller October 21 1999 (15)
        
        Read, weep, deny - repeat as necessary Gee si October 22 1999 (14)
        
        Quanatitative Differences Barry Stoller October 22 1999 (13)
        
        Actual Differences Gee si October 25 1999 (12)
        
        More 'effective demand' fairy tales? No thanks! Stoller October 25 1999 (11)
        
        More posts ending in no thanks? No thanks! Gee si October 26 1999 (10)
        
        The 'war on drugs' & the increase in work hours Barry Stoller October 26 1999 (9)
        
        long week Gee si October 27 1999 (7)
        
        Long weeks for more and more people Stoller October 27 1999 (6)
        
        pleasant of you Gee si October 27 1999 (5)
        
        'Real terms' Stoller October 27 1999 (4)
        
        sillies. Gee si October 27 1999 (3)
        
        So said the expert Gee Stoller October 28 1999 (1)
        
        bold Gee si October 28 1999 (0)
        
        So said the expert Gee Stoller October 28 1999 (0)
        
        Correction Stoller October 27 1999 (0)
  - How do you deal with a 'spoiled' child? bill October 20 1999 (2)
    - interesting way of seeing it. Needing authority Gee si October 20 1999 (1)
      - Having authority. borg October 21 1999 (0)
- Look at your premises! David USA October 20 1999 (25)
  - Minority Rule? No Thanks! Barry Stoller October 20 1999 (23)
    - Minority rule is just as bad as majority rule. David Sturgeon USA October 21 1999 (22)
      - you couldnt careless about the exercise of freewill just the rights of the rich. Lark October 22 1999 (2)
        
        if a minority decides to have you flogged for no reason it is facism. David USA October 23 1999 (1)
        
        Democracy lark October 25 1999 (0)
      - 'Free Market' Fascism? No Thanks! (better draft) Barry Stoller October 21 1999 (17)
        
        Objective law, subjective law...to some it is all the same. David USA October 22 1999 (16)
        
        Who are you trying to fool? (better draft) Barry Stoller October 22 1999 (14)
        
        Quote attribution David USA October 23 1999 (0)
        
        Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. David USA October 23 1999 (12)
        
        I wasn't fooled the first time Barry Stoller October 23 1999 (11)
        
        You speak as though capitalists are born into this world with a factory and no conscience! David USA October 25 1999 (10)
        
        Democracy as Lottery?---No Thanks! Barry Stoller October 25 1999 (9)
        
        Theft is theft is theft. David USA October 25 1999 (8)
        
        Sorry---you just don't get it Barry Stoller October 26 1999 (7)
        
        I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. David USA October 27 1999 (6)
        
        And the evidence you presented was... Stoller October 27 1999 (5)
        
        I don't doubt it. David USA October 28 1999 (4)
        
        No facts Barry Stoller October 31 1999 (3)
        
        Then fall David David USA November 01 1999 (2)
        
        After reading through this tank-tank amfibi Aus November 03 1999 (1)
        
        ? Stoller November 04 1999 (0)
        
        Who are you trying to fool? Barry Stoller October 22 1999 (0)
      - 'Free Market' Fascism? No Thanks! Barry Stoller October 21 1999 (0)
  - sticking to the premises Gee si October 20 1999 (0)
Getting to the meat. borg October 19 1999 (0)