I haven't received direct $$ from government in almost a decade, but there's been times I did and I was grateful they were there.
I'm happy to share a portion of my own earnings with the general public, and some of it thru government channels.
Now I have to work hard, just like you do, to have a say in where those dollars get used.
I bet our lists aren't that much different, though we each have our own importance levels.
I like seeing my tax dollars feed and house people who need it. I like giving some of my earnings today to those who may need it like I needed it a different time in my own life and who knows, like I might later.
I understand that on paper, many current functions of government might be done differently or even better in a so-called 'private' enterprise.
In fact, I encourage development of such private enterprises if I think they have a legitimate shot of replicating the government program while also benefitting those doing the work, not just the 'customer' or 'client', or the shareholders.
In the meantime, there's a host of excellent functions government agencies and programs deliver, thanks to millions of good people doing the work.
The more pure libertarian seeks to dismantle such good programs without always having a legit idea on how to fill the hole that's created in the process. Thus my own move a bit more back towards Center.
I'm happy to share a portion of my own earnings with the general public, and some of it thru government channels.
Now I have to work hard, just like you do, to have a say in where those dollars get used.
I bet our lists aren't that much different, though we each have our own importance levels.
I like seeing my tax dollars feed and house people who need it. I like giving some of my earnings today to those who may need it like I needed it a different time in my own life and who knows, like I might later.
I understand that on paper, many current functions of government might be done differently or even better in a so-called 'private' enterprise.
In fact, I encourage development of such private enterprises if I think they have a legitimate shot of replicating the government program while also benefitting those doing the work, not just the 'customer' or 'client', or the shareholders.
In the meantime, there's a host of excellent functions government agencies and programs deliver, thanks to millions of good people doing the work.
The more pure libertarian seeks to dismantle such good programs without always having a legit idea on how to fill the hole that's created in the process. Thus my own move a bit more back towards Center.
If you would score that high, you might enjoy a visit over here:
http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/
I find this one of the more useful and informative Blogs on my own list.
We discussed the 'LP' Test over there yesterday as well. I was like several others in there that likely scored lower due to the very succint questions which did not offer much definition in choice between A: Full Scale Liberterian or B: Total Socialist
A number of the questions thus had me protecting my flank a bit more than I might have had the example given allowed a bit more range of definition. Such an expansion in definition would likely bump my own score up into the 60-70 range.
Like you, I believe that one of the most important functions of our government is national defense. Though perhaps, unlike you, I perceive that the current emphasis of our military operations has very little to do with defending us against anything of much note.
That's essentially the foundation of what would put me in the 'anti-war' side of current foreign policy discussion, since I personally have very little fear of what our current leadership is telling me I should fear.
Were I to share their fear, I would likely be right there with those that currently support the administration's use of the military.
It's much less of a right/left discussion for me as it is, do I fear what they tell me I should? And going back to pre 9/11/01 and thru today, the answer has remained a steadfast, No I'm not.
http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/
I find this one of the more useful and informative Blogs on my own list.
We discussed the 'LP' Test over there yesterday as well. I was like several others in there that likely scored lower due to the very succint questions which did not offer much definition in choice between A: Full Scale Liberterian or B: Total Socialist
A number of the questions thus had me protecting my flank a bit more than I might have had the example given allowed a bit more range of definition. Such an expansion in definition would likely bump my own score up into the 60-70 range.
Like you, I believe that one of the most important functions of our government is national defense. Though perhaps, unlike you, I perceive that the current emphasis of our military operations has very little to do with defending us against anything of much note.
That's essentially the foundation of what would put me in the 'anti-war' side of current foreign policy discussion, since I personally have very little fear of what our current leadership is telling me I should fear.
Were I to share their fear, I would likely be right there with those that currently support the administration's use of the military.
It's much less of a right/left discussion for me as it is, do I fear what they tell me I should? And going back to pre 9/11/01 and thru today, the answer has remained a steadfast, No I'm not.
