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You don't need a government to apply a philosophy. You just need a critical mass of people to accept it and try to live by it. I'm not disagreeing that certain mechanisms need to be in place, by the way. The good guys need to do something against the bad guys so that there are negative consequences for doing bad.
We have to use philosophy to establish a foundation first. That will be the guide for a society (as it is now, and has always been). What I'm trying to say is that a foundational philosophy that says "people only have the rights that the majority gives them" will have very negative practical effects. We should be agreeing to respect every individual's rights universally so that we can have a more peaceful society.
That's not a philosophy. That's just a recognition of how the world works. That's something that you should be keenly aware of if you travel to other countries. Rights are not universal. The rights that you have in the US are a product of the society that you live in and the people that inhabit this country. Those rights do not extend beyond the borders of the country.
Once that is understood, then you can have a better understanding of why we have certain rights to begin with. If you feel you have the right to property, then who gave you that right? Who allowed you to claim a piece of land and decide that you could keep it for yourself? Your fellow citizens did and they enforce your claim through the mechanism of the government. And in return you are expected to respect the property rights of others and enforce their claims as well. In most places, you are required to pay a property tax. Now you might not like that, but that is method your fellow citizens have decided to use to fund the government which protects your claims and the claims of others.
I think social contract isn't a literal contract. Think of it this way, it's the whole you live in a uptopian town, you have to act in accordance to their rules or face sanctions. You can easily move towns. You can move to another country too.
The existence of one state means there will never be freedom. States operate minus concern for the NAP. That means their hand is long and can find you anywhere. It only takes one state.
Especially the way hardcore libertarians want it to be with no government. How do we get to that kind of anarchy peacefully? I'm not knocking anarchy, just the approach to get there...
I think folks like Ben Franklin were pragmatic anarchists. I like that about them .
The assault and theft come into play when the state (a 3rd party) forces the man to sell to the woman. We see it all the time when people are denied service. They run to daddy government and squeal on them so they are punished or forced to sell (which is theft).
It's easy to understand. In fact, it's the basic plot to most Brady Bunch episodes. Lol.
That is IF they report it to daddy government when they are refused a sale based on protected classes. If they just walk away and do nothing, they lose a sale, maybe several at most and no fines or anything. I'm not saying it don't happen, just maybe not as much as you may think.
I have no vision for you...that's all. Once free from the state do as you wish: ask me to join a contract, kill yourself, pick your nose, etc. I don't care. The NAP is the beginning and end of freedom.
You have no vision nor do you have plausible ideas for implementation for your ideas.
& you have not been able to give an example where individuals in the US have agreed to commit aggression against each other.
That is IF they report it to daddy government when they are refused a sale based on protected classes. If they just walk away and do nothing, they lose a sale, maybe several at most and no fines or anything. I'm not saying it don't happen, just maybe not as much as you may think.
Even if not reported you are still violating the state's law.
You do realize you and I both break several (if not many) laws per day? (Hopefully less for me with my CJ background )
The state may or may not catch us. They may or may not decide to pursue force. We may or may not know we broke some of these laws.
That all makes sense since it's based on a fictional contract.
You have no vision nor do you have plausible ideas for implementation for your ideas.
& you have not been able to give an example where individuals in the US have agreed to commit aggression against each other.
I don't need a vision. Freedom begins and ends with the NAP. I wasn't put on this earth to solve all your problems or society's problems. There's a word for that mindset: megalomania. I can spend my entire lifetime working on 1/10 of my own faults. I have no delusion to think I know who you are, what you value to make decisions for you.
Examples of aggression: voting, calling the police, holding political office, owning property outside the means of production.
That's not a philosophy. That's just a recognition of how the world works. That's something that you should be keenly aware of if you travel to other countries. Rights are not universal. The rights that you have in the US are a product of the society that you live in and the people that inhabit this country. Those rights do not extend beyond the borders of the country.
Once that is understood, then you can have a better understanding of why we have certain rights to begin with. If you feel you have the right to property, then who gave you that right? Who allowed you to claim a piece of land and decide that you could keep it for yourself? Your fellow citizens did and they enforce your claim through the mechanism of the government. And in return you are expected to respect the property rights of others and enforce their claims as well. In most places, you are required to pay a property tax. Now you might not like that, but that is method your fellow citizens have decided to use to fund the government which protects your claims and the claims of others.
All of this is appreciated, thanks & respect. It even contains practical travel advice!
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