Comments on: A call for the separation of economy and state http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/ Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:08:48 -0800 hourly 1 By: Julie A. Zug http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 Julie A. Zug Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:51:47 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1302 Dear Mr. Epstein, I am surprised not to have heard from ARC on the subject of the abortion known as "Cash for Clunkers". Myself being a "radical for Capitalism", I am dismayed at how easily people's detachment from the principles of the free market can be purchased, without giving any thought to what is being destroyed, including not only the cars, but the parts market and the ability of those with limited means to find cheap transportation. For your consideration, the following is a letter I submitted to a couple of newspapers: To the Editor, "Cash for Clunkers" not only should not be replenished, it should immediately be repealed. It is difficult to put into words just how deeply corrupt this program is. I urge you, if you haven't already, to watch video of the required method of "disabling" all trade-ins, regardless of their condition, and see if it doesn't make you even slightly ill. First, all the oil is drained from the engine. Then a sodium silicate mixture is poured in, a substance which hardens in response to heat. The engine is then revved at 2,000 rpms until it seizes up and it and all its component parts are rendered permanently useless. Car dealers, for the bribe of a temporary increase in sales, and the purchasers, for the bribe of a higher than market trade-in value, and the federal government are participating in the wholesale destruction of the marketplace which has brought unequaled prosperity to generations of Americans, and within reach for their children. This is being hailed as a success by the administration and by the media. It is not merely cars' engines being "disabled" by this administration. It is the motor of the United States of America. Drain the wealth, add in incomprehensible, insidious "reform" legislation (leaving the "details" to Congress), rev up the national debt until the economy is toast. This is the black hole we now see when we look toward the future, and at its center is tyranny, "green" smiley-face and all. Julie A. Zug Lancaster PA Dear Mr. Epstein,
I am surprised not to have heard from ARC on the subject of the abortion known as “Cash for Clunkers”. Myself being a “radical for Capitalism”, I am dismayed at how easily people’s detachment from the principles of the free market can be purchased, without giving any thought to what is being destroyed, including not only the cars, but the parts market and the ability of those with limited means to find cheap transportation. For your consideration, the following is a letter I submitted to a couple of newspapers:

To the Editor,

“Cash for Clunkers” not only should not be replenished, it should immediately be repealed. It is difficult to put into words just how deeply corrupt this program is. I urge you, if you haven’t already, to watch video of the required method of “disabling” all trade-ins, regardless of their condition, and see if it doesn’t make you even slightly ill.

First, all the oil is drained from the engine. Then a sodium silicate mixture is poured in, a substance which hardens in response to heat. The engine is then revved at 2,000 rpms until it seizes up and it and all its component parts are rendered permanently useless.

Car dealers, for the bribe of a temporary increase in sales, and the purchasers, for the bribe of a higher than market trade-in value, and the federal government are participating in the wholesale destruction of the marketplace which has brought unequaled prosperity to generations of Americans, and within reach for their children. This is being hailed as a success by the administration and by the media.

It is not merely cars’ engines being “disabled” by this administration. It is the motor of the United States of America. Drain the wealth, add in incomprehensible, insidious “reform” legislation (leaving the “details” to Congress), rev up the national debt until the economy is toast.

This is the black hole we now see when we look toward the future, and at its center is tyranny, “green” smiley-face and all.

Julie A. Zug
Lancaster PA

]]> By: Sergio http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1301 Sergio Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:47:22 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1301 Hi Alex, I'm relatively new to objectivism, and am struggling with how a transition from such a complex mixed economic system to a truly free market could be achieved without massive short term consequence. More to the point - with the kind of unavoidable short term strife I imagine, is risk of complete failure (failed state) a possibility? Finally - with the massive resources available to our largest corporations, how do you envision government, acting within the scope of its only truly moral purpose, being capable of protecting individuals from the kind of complexities associated with cutting edge corporate violations of individual rights? Hi Alex,

I’m relatively new to objectivism, and am struggling with how a transition from such a complex mixed economic system to a truly free market could be achieved without massive short term consequence. More to the point – with the kind of unavoidable short term strife I imagine, is risk of complete failure (failed state) a possibility?

Finally – with the massive resources available to our largest corporations, how do you envision government, acting within the scope of its only truly moral purpose, being capable of protecting individuals from the kind of complexities associated with cutting edge corporate violations of individual rights?

]]> By: donald wilkins http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1295 donald wilkins Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:24:15 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1295 I will be very interested in the roadmap. One reform I have been pondering is an board of economists who would impose a legally binding limit on the amount of money Congress could spend each year. The limit could only be over run in case of war or if 3/4th of Congress votes to do so. We should also look into forming alliances with organizations not always on the right side. For example, the Department of Agriculture should be vulnerable to conservatives wanting to cut the cost of government, liberal who want to liberalize trade (stop killing Africians with our surpluses) and save the earth types who want to halt the growth of factory farms. I hope to hear more ideas about how to implement the separation of economy and state. I will be very interested in the roadmap.

One reform I have been pondering is an board of economists who would impose a legally binding limit on the amount of money Congress could spend each year. The limit could only be over run in case of war or if 3/4th of Congress votes to do so.

We should also look into forming alliances with organizations not always on the right side. For example, the Department of Agriculture should be vulnerable to conservatives wanting to cut the cost of government, liberal who want to liberalize trade (stop killing Africians with our surpluses) and save the earth types who want to halt the growth of factory farms.

I hope to hear more ideas about how to implement the separation of economy and state.

]]> By: W http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1294 W Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:59:07 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1294 This should be the battle cry; separation of government and economy! This should be the battle cry; separation of government and economy!

]]> By: smitty http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1293 smitty Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:39:38 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1293 The Tenth Amendment--a great place to start. The Tenth Amendment–a great place to start.

]]> By: Quent Cordair http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 Quent Cordair Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:04:00 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1300 Congratulations on the link from Instapundit this morning, Alex. Well said, well done. Congratulations on the link from Instapundit this morning, Alex. Well said, well done.

]]> By: kim http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1299 kim Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:56:30 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1299 ...and while we're at it...how about a separation os science and state ( a la global warming or climate change or whatever it iscalled these days!) …and while we’re at it…how about a separation os science and state ( a la global warming or climate change or whatever it iscalled these days!)

]]> By: Instapundit » Blog Archive » A CALL FOR separation of economy and state…. http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1298 Instapundit » Blog Archive » A CALL FOR separation of economy and state…. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:29:46 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1298 [...] A CALL FOR separation of economy and state. [...] [...] A CALL FOR separation of economy and state. [...]

]]> By: Steven Wayne Lytle http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1291 Steven Wayne Lytle Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:57:23 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1291 What should we be for instead of merely against the government? We should be for a stateless society, i.e., a society with no government at all. Government can and does do nothing good that couldn't be done better in the private sector. Rand was right about a lot of things, but she erred when it came to the proper role of government in society. There is no proper role of government. Stefan Molyneux showed me that. What should we be for instead of merely against the government? We should be for a stateless society, i.e., a society with no government at all. Government can and does do nothing good that couldn’t be done better in the private sector.
Rand was right about a lot of things, but she erred when it came to the proper role of government in society. There is no proper role of government.
Stefan Molyneux showed me that.

]]> By: Tom Utley http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/a-call-for-the-separation-of-economy-and-state-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1297 Tom Utley Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:37:56 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=2639#comment-1297 I would go even further and call for a separation of society and state. The state should exist for the sole purpose of protecting society from the use of force. That's it. Religion, sexuality, pursuit of happiness, trade, culture, science, should all be completely and utterly separate from the government. I would go even further and call for a separation of society and state. The state should exist for the sole purpose of protecting society from the use of force. That’s it. Religion, sexuality, pursuit of happiness, trade, culture, science, should all be completely and utterly separate from the government.

]]>