Comments on: egalité vs liberté? http://joshua.almirun.com/politics/international/egalite-vs-liberte technology, politics, armchair philosophy Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:57:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Joshua Mostafa http://joshua.almirun.com/politics/international/egalite-vs-liberte/comment-page-1#comment-1409 Joshua Mostafa Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:14:46 +0000 http://joshua.almirun.com/?p=176#comment-1409 I agree with your statements about drug policy. A clear case of the government intervening to protect citizens from themselves; an infringement of civil liberties. Freedom, however, is not the only good. Different people's freedoms must be balanced each other, and freedom itself needs to be balanced against other goods. The social contract may be flawed, but there needs to be something, or people suffer. Suffering is a bad, and a certain amount of curtailment of negative freedom is not only necessary but desirable. Instances: smoking in bars vs. workers dying from passive smoking; freedom from taxation vs. decent social programmes, health services, etc. Americans are in no position to lecture others on freedom. Beyond the drug policy McPhatty mentions, look at government surveillance, high rates of incarceration, and its constant meddling in the other affairs of other nations. I agree with your statements about drug policy. A clear case of the government intervening to protect citizens from themselves; an infringement of civil liberties.

Freedom, however, is not the only good. Different people’s freedoms must be balanced each other, and freedom itself needs to be balanced against other goods. The social contract may be flawed, but there needs to be something, or people suffer. Suffering is a bad, and a certain amount of curtailment of negative freedom is not only necessary but desirable. Instances: smoking in bars vs. workers dying from passive smoking; freedom from taxation vs. decent social programmes, health services, etc.

Americans are in no position to lecture others on freedom. Beyond the drug policy McPhatty mentions, look at government surveillance, high rates of incarceration, and its constant meddling in the other affairs of other nations.

]]> By: McPhatty http://joshua.almirun.com/politics/international/egalite-vs-liberte/comment-page-1#comment-1197 McPhatty Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:25:05 +0000 http://joshua.almirun.com/?p=176#comment-1197 I've never read CiF before either, but it seems odd to me that one would want their government to set a rule for all social activity. She called it "consensual authoritarianism" in her article. I'm a simple Yank raised on capitalism, but we've always had a political debate about consensual crimes. We have a lotto, but gambling is illegal in all but a few exceptions. Alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs, but we ban certain substances becaue they have no medical usage..as if ciggaretts do! To me nothing should be illegal unless it deprives another of their Natural Rights, namely life and to be left alone by governemnt. Should a society shun those who are considered louts and obnoxious to others? Maybe, but only if those currs are allowed a place to be loutish and nasty. To expect these people to adhear to a 'code of conduct' that they don't ascribe to, simply to get along or for someone's idea of 'social justice', your asking for a fight....at least here in the states that is the case. I’ve never read CiF before either, but it seems odd to me that one would want their government to set a rule for all social activity. She called it “consensual authoritarianism” in her article. I’m a simple Yank raised on capitalism, but we’ve always had a political debate about consensual crimes. We have a lotto, but gambling is illegal in all but a few exceptions. Alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs, but we ban certain substances becaue they have no medical usage..as if ciggaretts do! To me nothing should be illegal unless it deprives another of their Natural Rights, namely life and to be left alone by governemnt. Should a society shun those who are considered louts and obnoxious to others? Maybe, but only if those currs are allowed a place to be loutish and nasty. To expect these people to adhear to a ‘code of conduct’ that they don’t ascribe to, simply to get along or for someone’s idea of ‘social justice’, your asking for a fight….at least here in the states that is the case.

]]> By: oliver http://joshua.almirun.com/politics/international/egalite-vs-liberte/comment-page-1#comment-1052 oliver Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:53:49 +0000 http://joshua.almirun.com/?p=176#comment-1052 "It adds nothing to debate, and as such does not belong on CiF." You've read CIF before, right? “It adds nothing to debate, and as such does not belong on CiF.”

You’ve read CIF before, right?

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