tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post189597713591908873..comments2024-03-22T11:55:50.335+13:00Comments on Not PC: NOT PJ: Public FinancesPeter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-88850347773628775972009-07-31T02:47:47.276+12:002009-07-31T02:47:47.276+12:00Madeleine:
Can the state do as it pleases and ign...Madeleine:<br /><br /><i>Can the state do as it pleases and ignore its own laws when it suits it?</i><br /><br />It can and it does, because we effectively have an absolute monarchy (without the time-preference advantages of an inherited throne) where Jane Public has no control over the government.<br /><br />Think of a cat toying with a mouse and you've got the idea. Of course, a large enough force of mice can overwhelm a cat...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-18851932578339837692009-07-31T02:38:11.231+12:002009-07-31T02:38:11.231+12:00You've raised some interesting points that hav...You've raised some interesting points that have got me thinking. What this episode has shown is that laws such as the Privacy Act and the Bill of Rights <b>restrict</b> our rights.<br /><br />Here's my ha'pennethworth:<br /><a href="http://kiwipolemicist.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/update-govt-makes-it-harder-for-beneficiaries-to-get-off-the-benefit-bennett-releases-income-info/" rel="nofollow">Update: Govt makes it harder for beneficiaries to get off the benefit (Bennett releases income info)</a><br /><br /><i>The way that modern democratic socialism works is that thousands of wannabe beneficiaries gang up every election and vote themselves the contents of each other wallets.</i><br /><br />What you've touched on is that fact the democracy is mob rule, and beneficiaries are the mob that rules> I've explained this further here:<br /><br /><a href="http://kiwipolemicist.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/the-problem-with-democracy-part-one/" rel="nofollow">The problem with democracy - part one</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-30126836194877771832009-07-30T12:35:22.454+12:002009-07-30T12:35:22.454+12:00Bennett’s crime was to violate a law because she d...Bennett’s crime was to violate a law because she didn't like it.<br /><br />Regardless of the merits of her actions you are conveniently ignoring the fact that the state in this situation has acted as if it is above the law. The law applies to all state agents and citizens included. When the state acts as if it is above the law the state must be called on it - even if the law is a stupid law.<br /><br />However as long as the state can rely on commentators such as yourself to conveniently ignore this in favour of the other issues it can do as it pleases.<br /><br />Bennett is a govt Minister. Whether you agree with the Privacy Laws or not she had a duty to uphold the law irregardless of the other factors in play.<br /><br />Or am I missing some tenet of libertarianism I am not aware of? Can the state do as it pleases and ignore its own laws when it suits it?Madeleinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377823497040412237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-26899553401233705642009-07-30T09:38:32.223+12:002009-07-30T09:38:32.223+12:00Quote from someone I forwarded this to: "He’s...Quote from someone I forwarded this to: "He’s a sensible man this Bernard Darnton. Tells it like it is."<br /><br />Now you just have to turn that into action.twrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-85734516495434355202009-07-30T08:53:23.421+12:002009-07-30T08:53:23.421+12:00Marcus, if you want to use any of my quotes for st...Marcus, if you want to use any of my quotes for stirring shit go right ahead - that's what they're for.<br /><br />Dave, if anything would be fatal to "the system" we should order an extra case just to be sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-59673179963060963422009-07-30T08:48:37.947+12:002009-07-30T08:48:37.947+12:00Well put, Bernard, as usual.Well put, Bernard, as usual.Richard McGrathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-4960597486060505372009-07-30T08:36:14.157+12:002009-07-30T08:36:14.157+12:00A great article, Bernard... you're a brilliant...A great article, Bernard... you're a brilliant writer. I loved that line about wanting chips too :-)<br /><br />So much of what you guys (Libertarians, to generalise) say is true and its such a pity that the purism of your philosophy demands that you take it to the extremes that you do.<br /><br />I think Libertarianism is like the enjoyment of a fine wine (or in PC's case a beer!). However good it is - even in quite large quantities - it still would be fatal to the system to imbibe it in extremes.<br /><br />Anyway... enough on that. Thanks for the enjoyable articles!Dave Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15264331694328629975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-41451981792238283592009-07-30T08:22:04.304+12:002009-07-30T08:22:04.304+12:00most of it got spent on basket-weaving and similar...<i>most of it got spent on basket-weaving and similar nonsense</i><br /><br />By God man, you're completely underestimating the value of basket weaving on the economy aren't you? ;)<br /><br />If I write a shit-stirring letter to the local paper, am I sweet to use your fish n chips quote?Marcusnoreply@blogger.com