Freedomain Radio

high def

 All the goods that corrupt people hold and offer, and are pleased to give promising neophites, are in themselves corrupt. But it's like the basic instinct to find the whip hand in society, and start kissing it, is inbred in enough young citizens to perpetuate the corruption indefinitely.

Is that realistic or pessimistic?

Great video - very punchy and to the point while exposing the hypocrisy and contradictory logic behind statism, religion and authoritarian power structures.

Testudines:

 All the goods that corrupt people hold and offer, and are pleased to give promising neophites, are in themselves corrupt. But it's like the basic instinct to find the whip hand in society, and start kissing it, is inbred in enough young citizens to perpetuate the corruption indefinitely.

Is that realistic or pessimistic?

If this were in fact a basic instinct in children, that would not need to be so much overt and covert bullying of the young in society...

It's hardly surprising that the dregs and losers of society tend to gravitate toward the State like parasites to a festering wound. What better place for reprobates and maladroits to wreak havoc with impunity and indemnity than a breeding gound for venality, graft, and malfeasance?

Look at these people in their business suits and uniforms and imagine what they would be doing if their livelihoods actually depended upon satisfying needs and solving problems instead of ruining people's lives, hindering progress and innovation, and destroying wealth.

I just watched this and I couldn't help but think of the former U.S. soldier (Steven Dale Green) sentenced to life w/o parole for raping a little girl before slaughtering her family and incinerating her. Sick story:

Prosecutors said Green was the ringleader of a group of five soldiers who plotted to invade the home of the family of four to rape the girl.

They said he later bragged about the crime, saying what he had done was "awesome"....

Green, 19 at the time of the crime, was described as the trigger-man in the group who donned black "ninja" outfits and raped [14-year-old] Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi and shot her, her father, mother and six-year-old sister.

The soldiers later set fire to the girl's body to try to cover up the crime.

The rape-murders took place after the soldiers drank whiskey, played cards, and plotted the attack in Mahmudiya, 30km south of the Iraqi capital, the court heard.

Three of the four other soldiers pleaded guilty in the attack and the fourth was convicted, all in military courts martial.

They were sentenced to between five and 100 years, but could be paroled much sooner.

Green was tried in federal court as a civilian on murder, rape and obstruction of justice charges because his arrest came after he was discharged from the army for a "personality disorder".

Alan Chapman:

It's hardly surprising that the dregs and losers of society tend to gravitate toward the State like parasites to a festering wound. What better place for reprobates and maladroits to wreak havoc with impunity and indemnity than a breeding gound for venality, graft, and malfeasance?

Look at these people in their business suits and uniforms and imagine what they would be doing if their livelihoods actually depended upon satisfying needs and solving problems instead of ruining people's lives, hindering progress and innovation, and destroying wealth.

Excellently put!

First, I think your core point is true.   We should hold those that wish to hold power to the highest ethical and moral standards.  And given that the state cannot maintain those high standards shows the problems with trusting the state with those powers.   I agree with that 100%.

But you lost me when you started trying to project motivation on why people join the military and to restrict it to three violent choices made it even sillier.   I don't think this tangent added anything to your point and if anything will discourage veterans from listening to more podcasts.  

While I cannot speak for others, I know that I did not join to rape or to kill.   At the time, I was still at statist and as a believer in the volunteer army it was simply a duty that some had to take so that others didn't have to.  So I did.

The vast majority of the people I served with joined for the GI Bill and not for any desire to commit violent acts.   While they may not have been opposed to using violence, it was not a primary motivating factor as you want to project.  

That certainly could be the case, but would I need more evidence than self reporting... I would really like to have a conversation with you about this, if you are available at some point.

I'm busy this weekend but should be able to make some time this next week in the evening.    I'm in Denver (Mountain time), what timezone are you in?  Maybe Tuesday or Thursday?

You prefer to use Skyppe right?   I'll need to get that setup and tested at home.  Use it at work so it shouldn't be a big deal but .....

*bump*

any forward progress on this conversation?

I'm sorry I've been swamped so far this week.   I thought our lead developer was going on vacation next week but it was this week and right to pattern things exploded as soon as he's out the door.   I'm not sure I will have time to do a real-time conversation but I can certainly squeeze some time in to do the conversation via the board or email if you like.

Other than that, my schedule is highly dynamic this week. 

Sorry for the conflict.

Any forward progress on this conversation?

Stefan Molyneux:

That certainly could be the case, but would I need more evidence than self reporting... I would really like to have a conversation with you about this, if you are available at some point.

OK, our lead developer is back so I should have more time this week if there is still interest. 

lowkey:

OK, our lead developer is back so I should have more time this week if there is still interest. 

I'd certainly like to hear it.