Monday, November 3, 2008

Thoughts before Voting

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy."

-Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865) 16th US President



As I would not be a victim, so I would not be a thief. This expresses my idea of morality.

--Beth Haynes, 2008 U.S. Citizen


"Redistribution" is legalized theft.


and from comment to "front page":

"As I would not want my life and freedom controlled by the state, so I would not want the state to control the lives and freedoms of all other men. This expresses my idea of Capitalism."

-- John Dick, 2008 U.S. Citizen
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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very well spoken, Ms. Haynes.

While I'm here, may I tell you how much I enjoy your blog? In fact, I'm making a nuisance of myself only because I just discovered you last night, and your work has heartened me.

Keep on keeping on.

HaynesBE said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
HaynesBE said...

Oh please don't think of yourself as a nuisance!! I mostly write to help clarify my own thinking, but knowing that my thoughts are read and appreciated (even when disagreed with) is a great boost. I keep asking my friends to comment (hint hint, and thanks to those who do) so I don't feel like I am blogging in the wind, so to speak.
I am checking out your blog as well. You've put in a lot of work!

So much to read, so much to think about, so much to write about!!
Beth

John said...

Hi, Beth,

What a great comparison! I think you may have discovered a way of expressing rational, fundamental concepts in a clear, concise manner. So, if I may, I would like to try one of my own.

"As I would not wany my life and freedom controlled by the state, so I would not what the state to control the lives and freedoms of all other men. This expresses my idea of Capitalism."
-- John Dick, 2008 U.S. Citizen

Keep up the great writing! Cheers

HaynesBE said...

Thanks John! Your formulation deserves more prominence.

John said...

Hi, Beth,

I am very honored that you decided to post my formulation "front page." Thank you.

As my fingers may not have been functioning properly the day I formulated, is it possible for you to correct some spelling errors I made? Could you correct the word "wany" to "want," and "what" to "want"? It might read better. I'll make sure I have some extra coffee next time. Thanks.

HaynesBE said...

Done!

Anonymous said...

What about the upward redistribution from renters to owners which is effected by government?

Hint: Read Sowell's Markets and Minorities

HaynesBE said...

poor boomer,

I am not sure what you mean by your question.

I like most of what Sowell has to say. Book has been ordered. Thanks for the tip.

Anonymous said...

In that book, Sowell addresses housing and zoning regulations. I believe it's in Chapter 7. As a world-class economist, he elegantly demonstrates (complete with econ graph) how regulation redistributes income upward.

Sowell notes that it's hard to defend upward redistribution.

Unfortunately, this book has long been out of print - last I checked on his website, it is one of only two works out of print - so many people have missed out on this underappreciated gem.

One of the things I admire about Sowell is that he has the intellectual integrity to address issues like this, even if not prominently.

So far I have not seen this issue addressed by the likes of Walter Williams, Larry Elder, and Alan Keyes. Sometimes I fear that these conservatives have succumbed to the "propertyist" or "homeownerist" mindset that rules this country.