Oddbean new post about login | logout Power is the ability to get other humans to do what you want them to. Violence is the most effective form of power. When the government is the only one who can rightly use violence, everyone who can’t are their slaves, as they must obey or face this violence. Going back to 1776-1930 America means the people have the police powers again, and no man is slave to another. Judges, politicians, donors, police can’t get away with murder when anyone can enforce the law. Hence “equality under the law”. We went from being the only free country on the planet, to being the least free country the world has ever known, and it all came with these governments ending equality under the law.
We differ here too. Violence is the LEAST effective form of power - which is why it's always a last resort. Government is the most effective way, currently, to get people to do what you want them to do - more specifically money and power. Violence is the least effective because it destroys 'resources' on BOTH sides of the battle/war. The ONLY reason someone uses violence is they believe the INCREASE in power/resources will be greater at the end of the war than the beginning. If you truly want no man to be a slave to another, you need to REDUCE the power of the central authority (laws, power, money) or it will ALWAYS rise up against you and control you. As you point out that's what happened in the USA. But it all started with the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913, and was solidified in the 1930s, and then sealed in 1971 when the Gold standard was 'temporary' suspended. But both our views are valid - this is not easy to figure out because we have never really had freedom before other than brief moments in time. We have become more free as humans over time and we control our OWN property.
If violence is the least effective form of getting other humans to do what you want, why do all governments in this enslaved world claim sole violence rights?
Remind me, how did we become the only free country in the world from 1776-1930, if not through violence? Violence is what makes the world go round, it’s been demonized so you don’t realize how powerful your violence can be. Why do you think protests do anything, it’s because the politicians are afraid the crowed will use their power aka violence.
Imagine governments without the ability to use violence….it would be like 1776-1930 America, we would have the police powers, the violence, and as such no one, not even the government could use their violence to oppress us. You do realize the only reason the government has any control over us is because of violence, right? Take away their ability to conduct violence and give it back to the people, and just like that we are the only free country in the world, again.
Haha, you obviously don’t own a home in a HOA if you think local “small” government is any less tyranical than national, “big” government. The desire to control others is wired into the most basic desires of all humans. You could have a government of one person, and they still could be tyranical oppressors. The trick is to make sure everyone is equal under the law. That means the people get their police powers back, and it doesn’t really matter what that politicians says.
Local Governments don't go to war with the city next to them. You need people to group together to accomplish efficiency gains for people - we are far more productive together. I'm also fine if there are local laws - I can move to the city across the state, or to another state rather easily. Moving nations is pretty tough. I think you going to the extreme to suggest we want no human organization. Central Government is the problem. This is all being worked out now - decentralization is happening - just a matter of time. Laws/rules serve the rulers - always have, always will.
Local governments don’t go to war with the city next to them, because the federal government power (capacity for violence) is much greater than their own. You’re definitely anti-freedom.
You are trying way to hard to fit violence into your narrative. The POWER of laws leading up to violence have done just as much or I would say MORE DAMAGE than the war itself. The war/violence is the relief valve for what has ALREADY happened.
You’re brainwashed if you want anything but equality under the law. The “kings men” should have the same exact rights and restrictions as the rest of us. Heck the king should have the same rights and restrictions as the rest of us.
You’re talking about the government’s violence. That’s kinda the point of the people having the police powers, the “government” doesn’t get to have any more capacity for violence than the rest of us.
I have a house in an HOA. I actually support HOA's over city Government. They are great for managing local problems (campers/boats in drives, lawn care, etc...). And if you don't like the HOA rules, you can always move to a location that allows campers in the yard. Small groups doing what they want - it's great.
Why is the tyranny of a HOA any better than the tyranny of the federal government? If anything, HOA’s are worse, as they have no one else to control but you and a few other people. Why not support freedom and equality under the law?
It's not tyranny if most all agree AND there are options. Small groups generally accept a set of rules to work together. It's a good thing. The problem comes in when the 'organization' gets too big and imposes its will on those that do not agree. And w/an HOA you can move a mile down the road and have another option. The 'power' to organize IS FREEDOM and EQUALITY. Now - if another HOA comes and requires YOUR HOA to follow THEIR RULES - that would be tyranny. That's what the Federal Government has been doing with retirement, healthcare, police, housing, etc... for the last 100 years. To the point that IRS has 10,000 pages of rules and Federal Laws dwarf local law.
Small government tyranny is no different than big government tyranny. All that matters is that we the people take back our police powers (authority to conduct violence in the name of the law). Only then will we have freedom.
Do you think your HAO can’t call the local Israeli soldiers (police) to force you to obey them?
Your “move” argument is stupid on its face. If you don’t like me raping your wife, move to somewhere else.
Haha, you’ve been totally brainwashed. The ability to organize (we don’t have that freedom) is what makes us equal under the law? This is double think, you are trying to infect others with your mind virus. Let’s break your brainwashing with a dictionary! Free = Without Restrictions (the the context of a society, that would be freedom from government restrictions hence why Americans had the police powers (authorized violence) and not the government back when we were called the only free country on the planet. Equality = Equal treatment Law = Rules and principles are designed to regulate the behavior of individuals, organizations, and government bodies to ensure order, justice, and the protection of rights within society. If we had equality under the law, there would be no police, as we would all have the same rights, restrictions and duties of what we used to call “Jack Boots” or “Solders” but are now called police. Prosecutors wouldn’t exist, because every case would go to trial. Political corruption would end no matter how “legal” they make it, simply because the pedo politicians wouldn’t have any hired goons, no one to use violence to force you to comply. In short, no one would pay them, because they would have no power.
America was the only free country in the world for 154 years, then the government usurped police powers, murdered a bunch of patriotic Americans, and just like that, we were conquered by domestic enemies.