tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086657322353310173.post4705419462320805976..comments2023-10-21T07:32:18.368-04:00Comments on The Virginia Democrat: Meet Bradley ReesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086657322353310173.post-71119551012895484322009-04-07T06:33:00.000-04:002009-04-07T06:33:00.000-04:00Thanks for the post, I think. ;-)As I told someone...Thanks for the post, I think. ;-)<BR/><BR/>As I told someone yesterday, the term "rabble-rouser," coming from me, is a compliment. I am a proud malcontent and, as such, feel a certain kinship with anyone, from any ideology, who seeks to shake up and question the status-quo.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for pointing out the errors in my "Libertarian" diatribe. As I told @DemBonesDrew, it was hastily written (back-of-the-napkin would be a literal term, in this case) and posted from my SmartPhone. Thus, sadly, I got some facts mixed up a bit. That's not really a valid excuse, since I have had the capability since then to go back and fact-check. I simply didn't. But I digress. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, thank you for reminding me of that oversight, sir, and I shall modify my post shortly. <BR/><BR/>As I posted over at Drew's blog, I suppose a bit of clarification is in order regarding my self-described philosophy. So here goes.<BR/><BR/>Since the description is kind of open-ended and sounds contradictory, I guess I should qualify it by saying I meant that I have <I>borrowed</I> from these different philosophies in the following ways-<BR/><BR/>Ayn Rand/Objectivism: The notion that man is an end in himself and is, ultimately, a rational/logical being, thus all of his knowledge and decisions are, whether consciously or not, wholly dependent on logic and rationalization. The man who is completely ruled by emotion has chosen to do so and, as such, is in denial of rationality. So it follows that he is actually a worshipper of death, since life is a series of self-generated and self-sustaining actions, dependent on logic and emotion, but logic first and foremost, as emotions on their own have no power to sustain life.<BR/><BR/>Libertarianism: Similar to Rand (but separate, since Ayn Rand despised Libertarians). Man is an individual. Natural rights (life, liberty, and property, as laid out in the Declaration) are conferred on each individual, and <B><I>all</I></B> individuals equally. In a moral and civilized society, an individual has every right to swing their fist. That right ends where another individual's nose begins. No entity (especially government) has the right to initiate force to achieve their ends. Hence, compulsory education and compulsory wage withholding are absolutely immoral, if we wish to claim that we live in a civilized and moral society.<BR/><BR/>Conservatism: Again, the point hinges on liberty. The individual, having property rights (without which the pursuit of happiness is impossible) conferred upon them not by man, but by virtue of being human, cannot therefore be stripped of their property under any moral claim, by any earthly entity. When government (which produces no product and creates no wealth on its own) gets wealth from individuals, it is designed to be voluntary. In being a citizen, it is an individual's duty to provide a portion of the monies by which government funds certain enumerated functions, but <I>only</I> those functions that absolutely cannot be performed by individuals. These functions are few. Our imperial Federal government has <B>far</B> over-reached those limitations, and has been reaching even further for well over a century, as the Framers predicted. This is, quite simply, unsustainable.<BR/><BR/>I hope that clarifies things a bit.<BR/>:-) Thanks again.<BR/>Bradley S. ReesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086657322353310173.post-69873734384978295882009-04-03T11:02:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:02:00.000-04:00I think you are both rabble rousers, and this is a...I think you are both rabble rousers, and this is all a secret plot to um... well it's for something, I just know it!<BR/><BR/>Great article, Alan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086657322353310173.post-78311485781421701882009-04-02T23:39:00.000-04:002009-04-02T23:39:00.000-04:00Thanks for this post, aznew.I must be a failure as...Thanks for this post, aznew.<BR/><BR/>I must be a failure as a rabble rouser, because, thanks to the humanization of Rees on this post, I kinda like the guy too - not that we will ever see eye-to-eye, or that he will ever earn my vote.Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16836469722651598246noreply@blogger.com