From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Tue Jul 13 2004 - 01:42:37 BST
Arlo asks:
> Are you in favor of unrestricted free-enterprise, or do you feel there
> should be some social regulations, which many impede any one individual's
> personal freedom, but promotes a level-playing field for all?
Please tell us what you mean by "level-playing field."
> Modern American Capitalism versus Eastern-bloc Socialism: It most certainly
> comes from you, Platt.
Oh? In what post did I use those words?
> Furthermore, my critical concerns were repeatedly equated with socialism,
> using Pirsig's phrase which was a criticism of easter-bloc socialism.
Oh? In what chapter of Lila did Pirsig use the words "eastern-bloc
socialism."?
> Again. Pure dichotomy. If I am not scared of socialism, I must be scared of
> freedom.
No. I said "If that scares you." I didn't say it "must" scare you.
> You are promoting fear by advancing, continually, this duality. Socialism
> or Freedom. You do it here. I think the people of Germany and Canada are
> free. Indeed, Platt, I've experienced more "personal freedom" in both the
> Netherlands and Denmark than I have in America. Ooops, unless you
> synonomize "personal freedom" and "my ability to maximize wealth at any
> cost".
Obviously your idea of freedom and mine are world's part.
> Because I am critical of your unrestricted personal freedoms to maximize
> profit at any cost, I am critical of freedom in general. I support the laws
> that restrict my ability to kill, drive drunk or slander others. Does this
> make me any enemy of freedom too?
No. It makes you an enemy of biological values.
> Tell me, Platt, do you favor marijuana legalization? The legalization of
> prostitution? Or are only business matters matters that should be free of
> "stifling social regulations"?
Yes. I favor both. (Ignoring for the moment that prostitution is a
business).
> > More accurate I think to say, "I favor free markets, BUT . . ." Right?
> Wrong. And this just shows again that you've not really bothered to read my
> posts. I favor "free markets", I disfavor practices that unlevel the
> playing field.
That's what I meant. You favor free markets provided they don't . . .
etc., etc.
> You have got to be kidding me? In at least four posts (that I've been able
> to find rereading what I've wrote) I mentioned several suggestions, none of
> which included "legal action".
Oh? I thought you were all for regulations.
> > Again, more accurate I think to say, "Earning money is good, BUT . . ."
> > Right?
> >
>
> BUT.. not at the expense of harming others?
> BUT.. it is not the greatest good we should consider?
> BUT.. it does not justify all actions?
Thanks for making my point.
> Asking "A and not A" does not logically preclude the existance of B, which
> must then be dealth with. You are conflating the world into "A and not A",
> answering the question, and then saying there are no more questions to ask.
And B and not B exists along the C and not C down the whole alphabet.
That's not the point. The point is words have meanings. In logical
argument you cannot used the word "socialism" without qualification and
then claim it means only "socialism of eastern-bloc countries."
Platt
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