Comments on: Pondering the Unintentional Consequences http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/ Our mission is to combat the unreason and selflessness that are sweeping our culture from the nihilist left to the religious right, and to sound a new ideal of capitalism and individual rights in American politics. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim May http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5895 Jim May Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:56:02 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5895 There has been an ongoing international effort to put a stop to "tax competition" by colluding against so-called "tax havens". It's almost as if they are afraid that sooner or later, someone really is going to found a laissez-faire republic somewhere. Such a thing has always been a rather <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand" rel="nofollow">fantastic</a> notion, and <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2008/04/28/homesteading-on-the-high-seas" rel="nofollow">remains so</a> to this day. I remember pondering what would happen if some relatively small country, such as Guyana, were to go laissez-faire; my cousin and I would joke about how Guyana would quietly take off, economically and technologically, embarassing the relatively non-capitalist world. And yet, whether this was what they had in mind or not, the possibility of enacting such a thing in a tiny country or ocean-borne "seastead" is being made well nigh impossible eve3n before anyone tries it; now the hypothetical capitalist revolutionaries will have to take over a nation physically large enough to be somewhat self-sufficient (both economically and <i>militarily</i>). There has been an ongoing international effort to put a stop to “tax competition” by colluding against so-called “tax havens”. It’s almost as if they are afraid that sooner or later, someone really is going to found a laissez-faire republic somewhere.

Such a thing has always been a rather fantastic notion, and remains so to this day. I remember pondering what would happen if some relatively small country, such as Guyana, were to go laissez-faire; my cousin and I would joke about how Guyana would quietly take off, economically and technologically, embarassing the relatively non-capitalist world.

And yet, whether this was what they had in mind or not, the possibility of enacting such a thing in a tiny country or ocean-borne “seastead” is being made well nigh impossible eve3n before anyone tries it; now the hypothetical capitalist revolutionaries will have to take over a nation physically large enough to be somewhat self-sufficient (both economically and militarily).

]]> By: Beth Haynes http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5802 Beth Haynes Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:54:14 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5802 Interesting connection. Add to that the words of Ayn Rand from "The Roots of War": "Men...have never rejected the doctrine which causes wars...the doctrine that it is right or practical or necessary for men to achieve their goals by means of physical force (by initiating the use of force against other men) and that some sort of "good" can justify it. It is the doctrine that force is a proper or unavoidable part of human existence and human societies... Statism needs war, a free country does not. Statism survives by looting; a free country survives by production." A question which needs answering: In the case of Iran, are economic sanctions an initiation of force, or are they a form of retaliation against those who threaten the initiation of force? And, what role, if any, should economic policy have in foreign policy? I wish I could give you an answer, but I need to think more on this issue myself. Interesting connection.

Add to that the words of Ayn Rand from “The Roots of War”:

“Men…have never rejected the doctrine which causes wars…the doctrine that it is right or practical or necessary for men to achieve their goals by means of physical force (by initiating the use of force against other men) and that some sort of “good” can justify it. It is the doctrine that force is a proper or unavoidable part of human existence and human societies…

Statism needs war, a free country does not. Statism survives by looting; a free country survives by production.”

A question which needs answering: In the case of Iran, are economic sanctions an initiation of force, or are they a form of retaliation against those who threaten the initiation of force? And, what role, if any, should economic policy have in foreign policy?

I wish I could give you an answer, but I need to think more on this issue myself.

]]> By: Lionell Griffith http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5782 Lionell Griffith Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:20:02 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/2009/10/pondering-the-unintentional-consequences/#comment-5782 Yes. Unequivocally yes! After the wealth of the productive is plundered and consumed, the only thing left will be war of all against all. When you have nothing to lose and have no future, you go for whatever you can get by whatever means is at hand. This ultimately leads to an abyss of death and destruction. Our so called leaders intend this to happen. They do not mean well in spite of their smooth words and slick presentations to the contrary. The use of reason and universal respect for individual rights are becoming forgotten values. Yet, that is the only thing that can return us from that dark abyss. Yes. Unequivocally yes!

After the wealth of the productive is plundered and consumed, the only thing left will be war of all against all. When you have nothing to lose and have no future, you go for whatever you can get by whatever means is at hand. This ultimately leads to an abyss of death and destruction. Our so called leaders intend this to happen. They do not mean well in spite of their smooth words and slick presentations to the contrary.

The use of reason and universal respect for individual rights are becoming forgotten values. Yet, that is the only thing that can return us from that dark abyss.

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