Subject:
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Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 4 Dec 2000 10:23:32 GMT
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Viewed:
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3623 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Scott Arthur writes:
>
> > Yes, but in the UK/EU we are far less materialistic (I am sure you have
> > found that). We are dull bunch, we stick our money in the bank rather than
> > spend it. Whereas, in the US, the average guy/gal does not save – I’m sure I
> > read US citizens, on average, have more credit than savings.
>
> Without getting into the question of which is better, it nevertheless still
> begs the question of why. WHY are you less interested in fun toys?
>
> Is it proper for a government to arrange its affairs so that people HAVE to
> be less materialistic to be happy?
I'm not sure we they do. We have a different culture from you - we need less
materialistic comfort. I suppose most of it harks back to our class
structure. In the UK, most of my countrymen aim to rise up the class
structure. Being materialistic is not the way to do this. In the USA wealth
is the social comparator. We are a far less ostentatious nation.
> That is a moral judgement, isn't it?
> Should governments make moral judgements about which (non violent)
> lifestyles are "better"? I'd say not.
They don't - the electorate does.
> Libertopia would have lots of room for
> people that wanted to get back to their own 40 acres, build a cabin from
> scratch, weave their own clothes and chop wood instead of tooling around in
> their new mercedes. But it would be their *choice*.
But not everyone could choose to do that... very few could.
>
> > But, I am happy with what you call "government intrusion" and I'd be happy
> > to pay more tax if my $$ is used well.
>
> I don't get it, exactly.
>
> If I can give you all the benefits of your system but with less costs, why
> would you be against it?
Because I am happy with what I have already, I do not want more. I'd rather
my saving was invested back into society.
> Or is it that you like the government intrusion of
> saying whether the populace can own Clockwork Orange or not, to pick a
> random example?
This is an urban myth. SK "banned" it himself, apparently, after a threat
was made against his daughter. It was a subject he refused to talk about
throughout his life. Within a few weeks of his death, it was on show at my
local multiplex. My government, can ban no film (even pro-communist ones).
The British Board of Film Classification (supposedly independent of the
government) only gives advice to local councils - it is they who choose not
to show films, a handful did not show crash a few years ago.
Scott A
>
> (this dodges the question of whether I can deliver said benefits or not, but
> for the sake of this question, suppose I can... assuming a better system can
> be created, why not pick it? That's the crux.)
>
> ++Lar
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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| (...) Why is that? I think that basically everyone who wants to can even now. Certainly the move to Libertopia would not change that. (...) But you would have more to invest back into your society _and_ you would have the ability to choose how such (...) (24 years ago, 4-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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| (...) Side point - ARE NOT! Otherwise, you'd stop buying Lego ;-) -- | Tom Stangl, Technical Support Netscape Communications Corp | Please do not associate my personal views with my employer (24 years ago, 4-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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| (...) Without getting into the question of which is better, it nevertheless still begs the question of why. WHY are you less interested in fun toys? Is it proper for a government to arrange its affairs so that people HAVE to be less materialistic to (...) (24 years ago, 1-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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