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Sunday 12 August 2012
The Myth of the Greater GoodThe Myth of the Greater Good, posted to Laissez Faire Books Today
by Wendy McElroy
[Note: please consider joining the Laissez-Faire Book Club -- an amazing community based on shared ideas, values and energy. http://lfb.org/wendymcelroy/]
In entry-level philosophy class, a professor will often present a scenario that seems to challenge the students' perspective on morality. The argument runs something as follows: “The entire nation of France will drop dead tomorrow unless you kill your neighbor who has only one day to live. What do you do?” Or “You could eliminate cancer by pressing a button that also kills one healthy person. Do you do so?”
The purpose is to create a moral dilemma. The questions pit your moral rejection of murder against your moral guilt for not acting to save millions of lives.
In reality, the questions are a sham that cannot be honestly answered. They postulate a parallel world in which the rules of reality, like cause and effect, have been dramatically changed so that pushing a button cures cancer. The postulated world seems to operate more on magic than reality.
Because my moral code is based on the reality of the existing world, I don't know what I would do if those rules no longer operated. I presume my morality would be different, so my actions would be as well.
[ Read the rest ... ]
by Wendy McElroy
[Note: please consider joining the Laissez-Faire Book Club -- an amazing community based on shared ideas, values and energy. http://lfb.org/wendymcelroy/]
In entry-level philosophy class, a professor will often present a scenario that seems to challenge the students' perspective on morality. The argument runs something as follows: “The entire nation of France will drop dead tomorrow unless you kill your neighbor who has only one day to live. What do you do?” Or “You could eliminate cancer by pressing a button that also kills one healthy person. Do you do so?”
The purpose is to create a moral dilemma. The questions pit your moral rejection of murder against your moral guilt for not acting to save millions of lives.
In reality, the questions are a sham that cannot be honestly answered. They postulate a parallel world in which the rules of reality, like cause and effect, have been dramatically changed so that pushing a button cures cancer. The postulated world seems to operate more on magic than reality.
Because my moral code is based on the reality of the existing world, I don't know what I would do if those rules no longer operated. I presume my morality would be different, so my actions would be as well.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Friday 10 August 2012
News and commentary round upRemember...if the news is depressing, go to my new site "The Art of Being Free" which focuses on the fun and joy of being free here-and-now.
From Backwoods Home Magazine: Phyles: rendering the state null and void by Claire Wolfe
From the Washington Times: The Civil War of 2016. The Pentagon literally prepares for war on the American people. Hat tip to Strike the Root.
From the Wall Street Journal: USPS Racks Up $5.2B Loss. Service is rapidly running out of cash
From WSBTV Atlanta: Fulton election results show more than 100% turnout in 4 precincts.
From Breaking Bad: CA vs. the Other States: Richard Rider writes...Here’s a depressing but documented comparison of California taxes and economic climate with the rest of the states.
From Backwoods Home Magazine: Phyles: rendering the state null and void by Claire Wolfe
From the Washington Times: The Civil War of 2016. The Pentagon literally prepares for war on the American people. Hat tip to Strike the Root.
From the Wall Street Journal: USPS Racks Up $5.2B Loss. Service is rapidly running out of cash
From WSBTV Atlanta: Fulton election results show more than 100% turnout in 4 precincts.
From Breaking Bad: CA vs. the Other States: Richard Rider writes...Here’s a depressing but documented comparison of California taxes and economic climate with the rest of the states.
A dog's best friend...From Daily Picks and Flicks..."John Unger, lulling his sick 19-year-old dog Schoep to sleep in Lake Superior. Schoep has arthritis and has trouble sleeping, so every night John cradles the dog in his arms because he found that water helps ease the pooch’s pain. John rescued Schoep as an 8 month old puppy, and he’s been by his side through many adventures. Stonehouse Hudson posted the picture and the story to Facebook on August 1. To date it has more than 260,000 likes and over 150,000 shares. You can buy prints of the image here. Proceeds go toward Schoep’s vet bills."
Thursday 09 August 2012
Organ Donor Revolution — or Revolt?Organ Donor Revolution — or Revolt?
by Wendy McElroy
[Note: This article was just posted on the Future of Freedom Foundation site. Researching this article absolutely shocking. Access the original and follow the many embedded links lest you think I am exaggerating.]
On June 25, the Institute for Justice (IJ) announced a life-saving development. It is now legal to compensate people for supplying bone marrow to those with cancer or blood diseases. The impressive victory took close to three years of legal maneuvering, and yet some commentators expressed the immediate hope that organ donations might open up in a similar manner. The prospect is unlikely.
The main obstacle is the government's constantly tightening control of medical care and its determination to never relinquish power to two opponents: the free market and individual choice.
How determined is the government to keep control? An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Americans die every year because they are unable to get a marrow transplant. More than 114,000 people are on waiting lists for an organ transplant; in 2011, 6,669 people died while waiting. According to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, “a new name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.” The federal government prefers such people to die rather than let the medical profession reflect supply and demand.
But market forces are inexorable. Bone marrow and non-vital organs become scarcer as demand soars. Black markets develop, lowering quality and making it difficult to tell if a donor actually consented or received payment.
Organ donation is an emotional and unpleasant issue that evokes images of death and disease. But with an aging population and increasing life spans, it is an issue that more people will be confronting. Several governments and many experts seem to be taking notice. They are addressing the organ-donation crisis, and some of the solutions proposed are alarming.
[ Read the rest ... ]
by Wendy McElroy
[Note: This article was just posted on the Future of Freedom Foundation site. Researching this article absolutely shocking. Access the original and follow the many embedded links lest you think I am exaggerating.]
On June 25, the Institute for Justice (IJ) announced a life-saving development. It is now legal to compensate people for supplying bone marrow to those with cancer or blood diseases. The impressive victory took close to three years of legal maneuvering, and yet some commentators expressed the immediate hope that organ donations might open up in a similar manner. The prospect is unlikely.
The main obstacle is the government's constantly tightening control of medical care and its determination to never relinquish power to two opponents: the free market and individual choice.
How determined is the government to keep control? An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Americans die every year because they are unable to get a marrow transplant. More than 114,000 people are on waiting lists for an organ transplant; in 2011, 6,669 people died while waiting. According to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, “a new name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.” The federal government prefers such people to die rather than let the medical profession reflect supply and demand.
But market forces are inexorable. Bone marrow and non-vital organs become scarcer as demand soars. Black markets develop, lowering quality and making it difficult to tell if a donor actually consented or received payment.
Organ donation is an emotional and unpleasant issue that evokes images of death and disease. But with an aging population and increasing life spans, it is an issue that more people will be confronting. Several governments and many experts seem to be taking notice. They are addressing the organ-donation crisis, and some of the solutions proposed are alarming.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Additions to "The Art of Being Free" FB pageA new freedom YouTube song, quote of the day and a new excerpt from my book "The Art of Being Free" have been posted on the FB page of the same name. The excerpt deals with the impact of transaction costs on the exercise of rights. This site is really starting to hop. Join the fun! Follow new additions on twitter @WendyMcElroy1
Cartoon round-upDaryl Cagle's Obama's Attack Dog; Nate Beelers's I've Escaped and Chris Weyant on the same theme; Chuck Asay's What's Wrong With This?; Jeff Koterba's Getting to the Space Station; and, Mike Luckovitch's Obvious Americans.
Wednesday 08 August 2012
The Third Rail of LibertarianismI have just posted an article on the Daily Anarchist entitled "The Third Rail of Libertarianism." It opens,
It is not abortion, intellectual property, nor the debatable morality of voting. The third rail of libertarianism is whether it is proper to receive stolen money in exchange for your labor. Otherwise stated, is it proper to take a tax funded job?
Click here to access the entire article and to leave a comment. http://dailyanarchist.com/2012/08/08/the-third-rail-of-libertarianism/
It is not abortion, intellectual property, nor the debatable morality of voting. The third rail of libertarianism is whether it is proper to receive stolen money in exchange for your labor. Otherwise stated, is it proper to take a tax funded job?
Click here to access the entire article and to leave a comment. http://dailyanarchist.com/2012/08/08/the-third-rail-of-libertarianism/
News and commentary round upFrom Current Events Inquiry: The sociopathy of Thomas L. Friedman: A compendium
From the Detroit Free Press: Nissan's new hires are $12-per-hour workers who are temporary for 5 years
From the New York Times: Indigestion for ‘les Riches’ in a Plan for Higher Taxes
From the Detroit Free Press: Nissan's new hires are $12-per-hour workers who are temporary for 5 years
From the New York Times: Indigestion for ‘les Riches’ in a Plan for Higher Taxes
Tuesday 07 August 2012
Full Spectrum Operations in the HomelandHat tip to Mike B. who writes, I really don't know what to say about all of this. On one hand, it will keep a majority of Americans living in fear, assuming that it is only propaganda. And on the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to increase the military's presence domestically, assuming that we're going to be seeing more civil unrest as a result of massive unemployment. I just hate all of this.
Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A “Vision” of the Future. “Combat units will conduct overt Show of Force operations to remind the insurrectionists they are now facing professional military forces, with all the training and equipment that implies…”
Commentary on above here and here.
Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A “Vision” of the Future. “Combat units will conduct overt Show of Force operations to remind the insurrectionists they are now facing professional military forces, with all the training and equipment that implies…”
Commentary on above here and here.
Book review by Carl Watner, "The Art of Being Free"Voluntaryism and The Art of Being Free
By Carl Watner
Before beginning this book review, I must reveal my own bias. My personal friendship and intellectual acquaintance with Wendy McElroy goes back three decades, and was rooted in the creation of The Voluntaryist, whose first issue was published in October 1982. George Smith, Wendy McElroy, and I were co-founders of the newsletter, and it is the guise under which nearly all of my own writing and advocacy have appeared for the last thirty years.
What should one expect from a book of essays written by Wendy McElroy? Although she only uses the word 'voluntaryism' once in the entire book (p. 221 as I recall), the chapters in this book revolve around her "deep conviction that there is something sacrosanct about the individual." (vii) The idea that everyone must "live with self-respect according to [his or] her own values" (ix) forms the underlying theme for all its contents. That, in fact, is what voluntaryism is all about: respecting the self-ownership that each person brings into the world with his or her birth.
[ Read the rest ... ]
By Carl Watner
Before beginning this book review, I must reveal my own bias. My personal friendship and intellectual acquaintance with Wendy McElroy goes back three decades, and was rooted in the creation of The Voluntaryist, whose first issue was published in October 1982. George Smith, Wendy McElroy, and I were co-founders of the newsletter, and it is the guise under which nearly all of my own writing and advocacy have appeared for the last thirty years.
What should one expect from a book of essays written by Wendy McElroy? Although she only uses the word 'voluntaryism' once in the entire book (p. 221 as I recall), the chapters in this book revolve around her "deep conviction that there is something sacrosanct about the individual." (vii) The idea that everyone must "live with self-respect according to [his or] her own values" (ix) forms the underlying theme for all its contents. That, in fact, is what voluntaryism is all about: respecting the self-ownership that each person brings into the world with his or her birth.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Monday 06 August 2012
Quote of the DayA tip of the hat to Tom Nelson for finding this comment by Australia's Barnaby Joyce about the "carbon tax," recently implemented in Australia, and often promoted as a means to encourage development of alternative energy sources:
People did not develop the wheel because they taxed walking, they did not develop the motorcar because they taxed horses and we are not going to develop a more efficient economy because we tax everybody.
Thursday 02 August 2012
News and commentary round upFrom the Telegraph: Milton Friedman was peerless until he met his wife by John Blundell. A memorial to Milton Friedman on his centenary.
From Reuters: Obama authorizes secret U.S. support for Syrian rebels
From Strike the Root: How did Americans become poor?
From Mother Jones: Congress Wants to See Obama's "License to Kill"
From Salon: Extremism Normalized by the great Glenn Greenwald
From Yahoo Daily News: Half of US counties now considered disaster areas
From Reuters: Obama authorizes secret U.S. support for Syrian rebels
From Strike the Root: How did Americans become poor?
From Mother Jones: Congress Wants to See Obama's "License to Kill"
From Salon: Extremism Normalized by the great Glenn Greenwald
From Yahoo Daily News: Half of US counties now considered disaster areas
Wednesday 01 August 2012
I am finally on twitterI am finally on Twitter due to Amy Alkon's friendly arm twisting. She is indeed the Advice Goddess. Wendy McElroy@WendyMcElroy1 is my account.
Your Religion or Your BusinessMy weekly article for the Future of Freedom Foundation has been posted: "Your Religion or Your Business." It spotlights the first court victory for freedom of conscience, freedom of religion for businessmen vis-a-vis ObamaCare. Click here to access the original article with its many embedded links to court documents, news coverage, etc. Or read the article without hyperlinks below. Enjoy!
Your Religion or Your Business
by Wendy McElroy
On July 27, an American court for the first time offered a tentative ruling on whether Obamacare outranks the religious rights of business owners. At issue is the Obamacare provision that requires companies with more than 50 employees to provide insurance coverage that includes contraceptives, abortion-related drugs, and sterilization. These services would be provided without cost-sharing: that is, employees who use those services would not need to share their cost directly. (In the lawsuit and this article, that provision is called the “Mandate.”)
In Newland v. Sebelius, a Catholic-owned business in Colorado (the Plaintiff) is objecting to the Mandate on religious grounds. The case is still pending, but Denver Judge John L. Kane has already struck a blow for religious rights. Pending a full trial, he granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the imposition of Obamacare upon the Plaintiff's business. The injunction benefits only this one plaintiff, but it now becomes probable that other companies will seek similar relief on religious grounds.
Preliminary injunctions are not headline grabbers, but the ruling is significant in several ways. Such a move means the judge believes the Plaintiff meets four criteria: the case is likely to succeed on its merits; without the injunction, irreparable damage could well occur; the Plaintiff bears the greater balance of harms; and the injunction serves a public interest. The injunction is an indicator of how sound the judge believes the lawsuit to be.
[ Read the rest ... ]
Your Religion or Your Business
by Wendy McElroy
On July 27, an American court for the first time offered a tentative ruling on whether Obamacare outranks the religious rights of business owners. At issue is the Obamacare provision that requires companies with more than 50 employees to provide insurance coverage that includes contraceptives, abortion-related drugs, and sterilization. These services would be provided without cost-sharing: that is, employees who use those services would not need to share their cost directly. (In the lawsuit and this article, that provision is called the “Mandate.”)
In Newland v. Sebelius, a Catholic-owned business in Colorado (the Plaintiff) is objecting to the Mandate on religious grounds. The case is still pending, but Denver Judge John L. Kane has already struck a blow for religious rights. Pending a full trial, he granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the imposition of Obamacare upon the Plaintiff's business. The injunction benefits only this one plaintiff, but it now becomes probable that other companies will seek similar relief on religious grounds.
Preliminary injunctions are not headline grabbers, but the ruling is significant in several ways. Such a move means the judge believes the Plaintiff meets four criteria: the case is likely to succeed on its merits; without the injunction, irreparable damage could well occur; the Plaintiff bears the greater balance of harms; and the injunction serves a public interest. The injunction is an indicator of how sound the judge believes the lawsuit to be.
[ Read the rest ... ]
News and commentaryFrom the Tampa Bay Times: Ahead of RNC, Tampa Bans ... Puppets?
From Green is the New Red: FBI Agents Raid Homes in Search of “Anarchist Literature” [Hat tip to D.K. who writes, Warrants included looking for flags and flag-making material and black clothing, books and magazines, and address books, the possession of none of which is illegal. Taxes paid for this horrible violation of the Bill of Rights.]
From CNS News: Rationing Begins: States Limiting Drug Prescriptions for Medicaid Patients...
From Newser: Gore Vidal dead at 86.
From Los Angeles Times: Anonymous online ammo sales would be banned under proposed law
From the New York Times: Tea Party scores big win in Texas.
From the Daily Anarchist: Auditing Shooting Rampage Statistics by Davi Barker. Highly recommended!
From Green is the New Red: FBI Agents Raid Homes in Search of “Anarchist Literature” [Hat tip to D.K. who writes, Warrants included looking for flags and flag-making material and black clothing, books and magazines, and address books, the possession of none of which is illegal. Taxes paid for this horrible violation of the Bill of Rights.]
From CNS News: Rationing Begins: States Limiting Drug Prescriptions for Medicaid Patients...
From Newser: Gore Vidal dead at 86.
From Los Angeles Times: Anonymous online ammo sales would be banned under proposed law
From the New York Times: Tea Party scores big win in Texas.
From the Daily Anarchist: Auditing Shooting Rampage Statistics by Davi Barker. Highly recommended!
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