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But all that constraining tissue served a purpose. Man is a social being, and his desire for community will not be denied. The liberated individual is just as likely to become the alienated individual, the paranoid individual, the lonely and desperately-seeking-community individual. And if he can’t find that community on a human scale, then he’ll look for it on an inhuman scale—in the total community of the totalizing state.
What a rag. Liberals and libertarians are barely in the same stratosphere regarding governments role in our lives and freedoms.
We need less of everything, state, local and federal. We are now living off the backs of the most successful while letting far too many people steal from others to sustain their way of life.
GOP + DNC = the state of affairs in 2013
Less is more
*Sigh* another person who decided to post without actually reading or comprehending the article.
What a rag. Liberals and libertarians are barely in the same stratosphere regarding governments role in our lives and freedoms.
We need less of everything, state, local and federal. We are now living off the backs of the most successful while letting far too many people steal from others to sustain their way of life.
GOP + DNC = the state of affairs in 2013
Less is more
Since Obama’s elevation to the presidency, America seems once more divided between “the party of the state” and “the party of the individual.” Conservatives are cracking open Atlas Shrugged and shouting about socialism, but they seem to have lost the appetite for thinking through the problem of community in an individualistic age—which is, of course, precisely the problem that make socialism so appealing in the first place.One hopes that this is temporary; one hopes that, eventually, the American Right will return to the problem of community, however vexing it has proven itself to be. Indeed, it is precisely because the problem will never admit of an obvious or permanent solution that it provides an appropriate organizing principle for a conservative politics—since conservatives, after all, are bound to disbelieve in permanent solutions as firmly as they disbelieve in the perfectibility of man.
Most people on here are either too dumb or too partisan to understand what the article is saying.
Yes indeed, that is so true. The biggest problem with that is that the dumber and more partisan they are, the less likely they'll recognize that they are.
I read the article, and I think it was a cleverly written promo for accelerating the current socialist-statist-collectivist agenda, pretending to be journalism.
In the article, the author suggests that the conflict between individualism and collectivism is a "distraction", insinuating a false paradigm. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this conflict boils down to a choice between the ideology embraced by the founders of this nation, and those wishing to transform the nation into an authoritarian collectivist nightmare.
Government should purse collective action. Individuals should pursue individualist action.
The exact point of the article is that more individual action leads to less community/local associations and therefore bigger government.
Before posting
1.) Read article
2.) Ask yourself if you understand the article
3.) Finally, when posting, be sure what you're writing is relevant to the article. If you disagree, specifically state what points the author made that you disagree with!
Yes indeed, that is so true. The biggest problem with that is that the dumber and more partisan they are, the less likely they'll recognize that they are.
I read the article, and I think it was a cleverly written promo for accelerating the current socialist-statist-collectivist agenda, pretending to be journalism.
In the article, the author suggests that the conflict between individualism and collectivism is a "distraction", insinuating a false paradigm. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this conflict boils down to a choice between the ideology embraced by the founders of this nation, and those wishing to transform the nation into an authoritarian collectivist nightmare.
Hmm, interesting. But I thought the whole point of the article was arguing for less government, less "individual" culture, more authentic community?
"The shaping society in a way that is just and ordered, where the poor are taken care of and the lonely can feel included and a sense of self-worth, will only happen when individuals feel a duty to take care of more than just themselves, and have the means to do it through more than just government and politics."
Yes indeed, that is so true. The biggest problem with that is that the dumber and more partisan they are, the less likely they'll recognize that they are.
I read the article, and I think it was a cleverly written promo for accelerating the current socialist-statist-collectivist agenda, pretending to be journalism.
In the article, the author suggests that the conflict between individualism and collectivism is a "distraction", insinuating a false paradigm. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this conflict boils down to a choice between the ideology embraced by the founders of this nation, and those wishing to transform the nation into an authoritarian collectivist nightmare.
Really? I thought it was more conservative.
"t would also be good if conservatives stopped talking about economic liberty as if it’s the only thing necessary to make a good society, and if liberals acknowledged that the state’s capacity to solve social problems is severely limited."
"t would also be good if conservatives stopped talking about economic liberty as if it’s the only thing necessary to make a good society, and if liberals acknowledged that the state’s capacity to solve social problems is severely limited."
Look, in this modern age, there can be no form of liberty in absence of economic opportunity and prosperity. That is just a reality. Idealism doesn't pay mortgage, nor are such platitudes redeemable at the grocery store. People need an income, and that will always be the FIRST PRIORITY.
This economic prosperity is also critically important to experiencing that "good society" as there is a direct link between poverty and crime, and the resulting breakdown of society that we see happening today can be greatly attributed to economics.
Look, in this modern age, there can be no form of liberty in absence of economic opportunity and prosperity. That is just a reality. Idealism doesn't pay mortgage, nor are such platitudes redeemable at the grocery store. People need an income, and that will always be the FIRST PRIORITY.
This economic prosperity is also critically important to experiencing that "good society" as there is a direct link between poverty and crime, and the resulting breakdown of society that we see happening today can be greatly attributed to economics.
If you read that sentence closely you wouldn't have a problem with it.
"It would also be good if conservatives stopped talking about economic liberty as if it’s the only thing necessary to make a good society,
The ONLY thing. He's not saying economic liberty isn't important, nor is he even saying it shouldn't be the first priority. He's just saying there are other things that are important to shaping a good society, such as strong neighborhoods and communities and other local associations.
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