Torsten
September 20, 2008, 7:48am
21
I use that basic argument for everything. If the minimum wage works, why isn’t it a living wage? If the government can control unemployment, why are there still people without jobs? If the government can manage the economy, why are we in a recession? If the government printing money (increasing liquidity) can pay off bad debt, why doesn’t it print a bunch and pay off all debt?
The best argument against democracy IMO, is not one of philosophy. The average meat head doesn’t have a clue about Rothbard or Rand, Aristotle or Long. It would take weeks to bring them up to speed, assuming they would even be willing to make that investment between stuffing their faces and text voting on American/Canadian Idol.
Quite simply, if democracy works, then why isn’t the government responding to issue X, Y and Z? Why hasn’t it been able to solve A, B or C despite have the power [sic] and mandate for the last X years?
I can imagine that the pro-democracy crowd would respond with two kinds of arguments here:
It’s because the government hasn’t got enough power. Greedy businessmen and hateful extremist still have to much power to undermine state and society.
It’s because, 'people didn’t vote
Right, so I would ask them what regulation is needed? As soon as they make the inevitable attack on excessive profits or speculation, voila! The door is open to teach some basic economics.
It’s like chess. You have to maneuver your opposite into asking the right questions, which are the questions you can answer and create a checkmate.
I didn’t understand this one. Could you rephrase it?
“Know when to give up a lost cause. Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free doesn’t deserve to be.”
L. Neil Smith’s Lever Action.