SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Solon who wrote (44796)1/22/2006 3:19:20 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 90947
 
No, that is not the point. I am trying to make a distinction between governments which use force to legitimately further civilized and moral values, versus governments which use force to promote criminal activity. I am trying to point out that "force" is a neutral concept, and may be moralized only in circumstance and context.

I think the distinction is an important one but the two aren't entirely distinct. Force is relatively neutral, but initiating force against someone who provided no threat or abuse or fraud against anyone isn't neutral. It may be a necessary evil, because if you don't use force or threat of force to do things like collect taxes you won't have the ability to respond to people who are threatening or attacking or defrauding others.

If the founders of the U.S. Constitution had agreed to include a sharing of health care costs in their Constitutional Agreement, then this would have had no less moral justification than any other agreement entered into by competent and free men as to obligations of the parties one to another.

I disagree. It would have as much legal justification as any other legal and constitutional act by the government, but it would not be an agreement freely entered in to by all parties, nor would it be the moral equivalent of such an agreement.

Tim
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News