philosophy of government

#1
RespectTradition

RespectTradition

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#1
Government and rights

We all have a philosophy of government, social responsibility, freedom, rights, etc. I think it could be interesting to discuss our foundational concepts. Here are mine:


Assumptions

  1. Each person owns himself.
  2. Each person has the right to use or not use what he owns as he sees fit.
  3. It is wrong to deprive anyone of rights initially.
  4. Any member of the group has the authority to protect the rights of any other member of the group unless such protection is unwanted.
  5. There are some people who are not competent to exercise their rights and as such their rights are held in trust. This concept makes me queasy, but I think children, those suffering from dementia, etc can not be allowed unfettered freedom. I hate this one. I can't figure out a good way around it though.
  6. No law is legitimate that violates the preceding concepts.


Legitimate Role of Government

To me, the only legitimate role of government is to prevent anyone from depriving us of the free exercise of our rights. However, it may not preemptively deprive anyone of their rights in order to protect rights.


Inherent Rights

All rights save one is derived from the right to own and use property and that is the right to own and use property which I accept as axiomatic.

I own my mouth, therefore I can use it to say what I choose.

I own my house, therefore I can say who can enter it or not.

I own my mind, therefore I can use it to worship or not as I see fit.

I own my stuff, therefore taking it deprives me of my right of ownership.

I own my life, therefore taking it deprives me of my right of ownership.

I own my body, therefore inflicting violence upon it deprives me of my right of ownership.

These are just examples.


Positive Rights

All positive rights presuppose that my needs/wants are superior to the needs/wants of property owners and are therefore illegitimate. I reject all positive rights.


Freedom

Freedom means the unbridled ability to exercise my rights as long as I don't deprive anyone else of rights in the process.


Social responsibility

There is no such thing. I am responsible for me and for my dependents.


Crime

Crime is depriving someone of his rights preemptively.
 
#4
#4
This video is so simple, but offers a wealth of knowledge.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muHg86Mys7I[/youtube]
 
#6
#6
RT, which camp are you camp are you in, in reference to human nature/state of nature: Hobbs or Locke?
 
#7
#7
RespectTradition said:
Would I? no. Should I be able to if I want to? Yes.
Click to expand...

Like Walter Williams said (paraphrasing), "We all discriminate, and it should not be illegal to do so. You cannot make a choice without discriminating. I did not give white women a chance in my courting days. Should that be frowned upon?"
 
#9
#9
Scenario 2 - right to do what you want with your own property.

You build your dream home on the 2 acre lot you own. It's private and the neighboring lots are heavily wooded. Your neighbor on the back decides to remove all the trees on his property (10 acres) and open a paper plant. The neighbor on one side does likewise and opens a fertilizer processing plant while the neighbor on the other side decides to clear his property and use it as a landfill.

Any restrictions on these actions?
 
#10
#10
volinbham said:
Scenario 2 - right to do what you want with your own property.

You build your dream home on the 2 acre lot you own. It's private and the neighboring lots are heavily wooded. Your neighbor on the back decides to remove all the trees on his property (10 acres) and open a paper plant. The neighbor on one side does likewise and opens a fertilizer processing plant while the neighbor on the other side decides to clear his property and use it as a landfill.

Any restrictions on these actions?
Click to expand...
Nope.
 
#11
#11
volinbham said:
Scenario 2 - right to do what you want with your own property.

You build your dream home on the 2 acre lot you own. It's private and the neighboring lots are heavily wooded. Your neighbor on the back decides to remove all the trees on his property (10 acres) and open a paper plant. The neighbor on one side does likewise and opens a fertilizer processing plant while the neighbor on the other side decides to clear his property and use it as a landfill.

Any restrictions on these actions?
Click to expand...

No. And if they decided to do it in a neighborhood that wasn't in shambles, then they'd be paying too much for the land for those purposes, so there is some natural protection against this behavior.
 
#12
#12
volinbham said:
Scenario 2 - right to do what you want with your own property.

You build your dream home on the 2 acre lot you own. It's private and the neighboring lots are heavily wooded. Your neighbor on the back decides to remove all the trees on his property (10 acres) and open a paper plant. The neighbor on one side does likewise and opens a fertilizer processing plant while the neighbor on the other side decides to clear his property and use it as a landfill.

Any restrictions on these actions?
Click to expand...

No, with a caveat. If I do something on my property that damages your property then it is wrong. For example, I start a widget factory and pollute the ground water of your well, then I have damaged your property. Can an argument be made for stench pollution? Maybe. Let's hear the arguments on both sides and then decide.
 
#13
#13
nbakerld said:
No. And if they decided to do it in a neighborhood that wasn't in shambles, then they'd be paying too much for the land for those purposes, so there is some natural protection against this behavior.
Click to expand...

That's a big assumption - I would bet I could earn more out of residential land by making it a business/productive than just letting it remain residential.
 
#14
#14
volinbham said:
That's a big assumption - I would bet I could earn more out of residential land by making it a business/productive than just letting it remain residential.
Click to expand...

It depends. If you are talking about a hotel, then yeah, but nobody is going to put a landfill on property where there is demand.
 
#15
#15
RespectTradition said:
No, with a caveat. If I do something on my property that damages your property then it is wrong. For example, I start a widget factory and pollute the ground water of your well, then I have damaged your property. Can an argument be made for stench pollution? Maybe. Let's hear the arguments on both sides and then decide.
Click to expand...

How about noise pollution. What if your duplex neighbor has his punk band practice all night? You can't kick his arse because that would definitely violate his rights.

The "I can do what I want so long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others" is fine in theory but until you say what infringement means then it allows pretty much any of these things.
 
#16
#16
volinbham said:
How about noise pollution. What if your duplex neighbor has his punk band practice all night? You can't kick his arse because that would definitely violate his rights.

The "I can do what I want so long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others" is fine in theory but until you say what infringement means then it allows pretty much any of these things.
Click to expand...

Take it up with the landlord....there are easy solutions.

Or you could actually talk to your neighbors and come up with agreements. The movie Hustle & Flow comes to mind.
 
#17
#17
nbakerld said:
It depends. If you are talking about a hotel, then yeah, but nobody is going to put a landfill on property where there is demand.
Click to expand...

landfills can be quite lucrative - particularly if the zoning restrictions are as mild as being suggested in this thread.
 
#19
#19
volinbham said:
How about noise pollution. What if your duplex neighbor has his punk band practice all night? You can't kick his arse because that would definitely violate his rights.

The "I can do what I want so long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others" is fine in theory but until you say what infringement means then it allows pretty much any of these things.
Click to expand...

I don't have a right to silence.
 
#22
#22
Your close next door neighbor (shared driveway) decides to open a low rent whore house. Lots of drug use, people coming in and out all hours, several fights a day, and non-stop music.

Cool?
 
#24
#24
RespectTradition said:
I don't have a right to silence.
Click to expand...

thanks for the answer.

So far:

noise pollution is not an issue

water pollution is an issue (but would need definition - eg if I have live stock does that pollution count)

smell pollution has not yet been fully addressed
 
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