Chris Matthews

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: Chris Matthews

Perhaps you are misreading the second statement, or perhaps I am. Essentially, as long as you prescribe the right to life as absolute (or very nearly absolute, more on this later), you can state that any other rights you have can only be infringed upon if you allow it. You can voluntarily consent to a drug test as part of a contract for employment, but there is no justification to violate your privacy in a similar fashion without your consent.

I say that the right to life should be considered very nearly absolute because I believe in self-defense up to the possibility of lethal force and the possibility of a Just War.

There are innumerable exceptions to that broad generalization. However, as you allude to, the aforementioned ethical standards would be a justification for exercising government power. That justification does not extend to exercising further government power; only the amount necessary to ensure entities are not infringing upon the rights of others. Essentially, government should really only exist to avoid fraud, theft, and violence, and provide the necessary framework to perpetuate itself to meet only those ends. That's the minarchist libertarian ideal, at least.

If some people were not crooks and violent, there would be no laws against fraud, theft, and violence. Fact is, I believe, many humans do not live by the golden rule, so in societies rules and laws are made to bring people into line.

I don't think there are "innumerable exceptions" to what I stated. If I'm so obviously incorrect, please go to the trouble to enumerate say 20 examples.

[Ghent12]

Re: Chris Matthews

If some people were not crooks and violent, there would be no laws against fraud, theft, and violence. Fact is, I believe, many humans do not live by the golden rule, so in societies rules and laws are made to bring people into line.

I don't think there are "innumerable exceptions" to what I stated. If I'm so obviously incorrect, please go to the trouble to enumerate say 20 examples.

Well just to name a few that follow what you outlined, in my opinion of course: the Amish community, the Mennonite community, the Boy Scouts of America, myself. Jeez, no wonder I'm so boring, to be comparable to such groups...

You're right that there is a need for some rules and laws. I'm not an anarchist, just a minarchist.

[cjppjc]

Re: Chris Matthews

Well just to name a few that follow what you outlined, in my opinion of course: the Amish community, the Mennonite community, the Boy Scouts of America, myself. Jeez, no wonder I'm so boring, to be comparable to such groups...

You're right that there is a need for some rules and laws. I'm not an anarchist, just a minarchist.

Those are nice examples of people who don't bother other people. All laws are the result of subjective, and arbirtary morality. What is considered moral and right in one culture is detested and ridiculed in another. State sponsored punishment is another example. Most people in this country are sickened at some of the things done to criminals. But some of them are in favor of capital punishment.