Taxes

Hi, I'm new to this philosophy and have some questions. Such as...

Taxes. Theoretically, wouldn't a government that existed exclusively to protect indivudual rights need funding? Where would the money to sustain a court system come from, for example? Or the military and police systems? Who makes the laws, and how are they paid? Or would services such as these be recognized as needs and be fulfilled through the private sector?

Thanks,
Jane

Post 1

Monday, February 23, 2004 - 8:53pm

Oops, my bad. Forgot to read all of Objectivism 101. *blush*

Nevermind.
Jane

Post 2

Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 5:41pm

This still deserves a proper reply, by nettiquette standards. I'd like to see an individualistic response to this, rather than a regurgitation of our teachers works.

Post 3

Monday, March 8, 2004 - 10:48pm

Yes. I'm very interested in the politics of things, i.e. the feasibility of ideas and practical applications. The political ideal of Capitalism is great (no, I mean, REALLY great), but would it really work in government? It would be fabulous to have a country in which to test these ideas, a guinea pig country so to speak. But I suppose that's wishing for the unreal, eh?

But I wonder if there are any microcosms existing in the world today (or in history) that employ(ed) Objectivist or very similar ideas that we could point to and say "See, it really does work." Obviously the beginnings of the European Industrial Revolution nations and the U.S., aside from the whole Christianity thing, but now these same countries are certainly a far cry from the Capitalist ideal with their mixed economies and the moral intrusions and so forth.

By the way, I'm "Jane". That's my internet pseudonymn which I used on a couple of posts before I was more decently acquainted with this site.

Love it, by the way! So nice to find a bunch of Objectivists who are not rationalistic (I think this is the correct term).
:0 Oh, happiness.

Meg

Post 4

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 8:09pm

Meg,

You might want to check out Lindsay's Mollifying Marcus.

Post 5

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 11:58pm

The proof really is "all around you"-- here at the college I go to we have a "free" healthcare service, which of course we pay a fee for. An acquaintance of mine went there when he got sick once. They told him it was a cold and to go home. He didn't think so and checked into a 24 hour health care clinic. Turned out he had Tonsillitis. When I had a problem with my vision one day, I went to get it checked out. They shined a light in my eye. And apparently they needed two people for the job. It turns out I had a wierd type of migraine, but I found that out from looking on the internet. Interesting how you can get more info from the internet than the so-called "doctors" at socialized health care clinics!

Thanks for the redirect-- an good answer, and obvious when you think about it.

Meg

Post 6

Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 3:10am

Meg,

Healthcare at my University is given out in a similar manner. In fact they are so pleased to provide you with it that if you actualy have your own, like I do, then you need to fill out a three page waver to tell them that though you apprechiate their concern you will not be interested in taking their Healthcare provisions at this time. This is filled out once a year to remind them that you are thankful. In fact this year I turned in that waver on the last date that it could be turned in on and now I may end up having to pay for insurance that I will not use.

I really am glad the left takes the time to care for me, otherwise I might only have one healthcare provider instead of two.

~Fun Fun~

E.J. Tower

(Edited by Eric J. Tower on 3/11, 3:13am)

Post 7

Monday, May 3, 2004 - 6:46am