Just out of curiosity do you recall any politically charged arguments that have basically convinced you but aren’t comfortable implementing them because of Burkean concerns? Preferably ones that have a real shot of being implemented.
Abso-fucking-lutely!
1) I would abolish all tariffs and trade protections, that’s how I would vote and argue. If given the power to do it unilaterally against the expressed will of the republic I would not take it.
2) I would abolish the income tax and fund the gov’t with various forms of consumption taxes instead. I would phase in the differences probably linearly over 10 years. I wouldn’t do it without the republic agreeing.
3) In the past I have made the aspirational statement “I am a communist until you are 18 and a libertarian after that.” I consider the socialization of “parental” responsibility to be a brilliant way to increase production and lower costs. I consider the fact that you can’t find a rich parent who doesn’t “throw money at the problem” even as he cries in a hurt and angry voice that the government is stealing his money and wasting it by “throwing money at problems.” I will argue this and cajole and persuade and vote accordingly, but I wouldn’t take more than the Republic would give me.
4) I would eliminate rules about who has to pay extra for petroleum products and just let the price decide. If a farmer needs a truck to bring produce 100 miles, the economy is better off if he makes his capital investments reflecting a fair and straight market competition with the soccer mom bringing her 3 year old to pre-school in a Hummer. Shocking, but true. I am willing to wait for that wisdom to percolate into the republic rather than subverting the republic.
5) When I was growing up it was still illegal to have sex with my male friend but not with my female friend. This in the 1970s in a place no less opinion-leading than New York State! As it turns out, this is one that HAS percolated broadly into the current legal structure. I count that as evidence that my idea that republics can work.
And sex laws aren’t the only win. In my lifetime telephony, commercial air and truck transport, and radio spectrum allocation have been heavily deregulated, risking it all on the market coming up with answers that work OK even for poor people. Strong evidence that republics can and do eventually improve the quality of their law.
Abso-fucking-lutely!
1) I would abolish all tariffs and trade protections, that’s how I would vote and argue. If given the power to do it unilaterally against the expressed will of the republic I would not take it.
2) I would abolish the income tax and fund the gov’t with various forms of consumption taxes instead. I would phase in the differences probably linearly over 10 years. I wouldn’t do it without the republic agreeing.
3) In the past I have made the aspirational statement “I am a communist until you are 18 and a libertarian after that.” I consider the socialization of “parental” responsibility to be a brilliant way to increase production and lower costs. I consider the fact that you can’t find a rich parent who doesn’t “throw money at the problem” even as he cries in a hurt and angry voice that the government is stealing his money and wasting it by “throwing money at problems.” I will argue this and cajole and persuade and vote accordingly, but I wouldn’t take more than the Republic would give me.
4) I would eliminate rules about who has to pay extra for petroleum products and just let the price decide. If a farmer needs a truck to bring produce 100 miles, the economy is better off if he makes his capital investments reflecting a fair and straight market competition with the soccer mom bringing her 3 year old to pre-school in a Hummer. Shocking, but true. I am willing to wait for that wisdom to percolate into the republic rather than subverting the republic.
5) When I was growing up it was still illegal to have sex with my male friend but not with my female friend. This in the 1970s in a place no less opinion-leading than New York State! As it turns out, this is one that HAS percolated broadly into the current legal structure. I count that as evidence that my idea that republics can work.
And sex laws aren’t the only win. In my lifetime telephony, commercial air and truck transport, and radio spectrum allocation have been heavily deregulated, risking it all on the market coming up with answers that work OK even for poor people. Strong evidence that republics can and do eventually improve the quality of their law.