[joconnor]

GDP includes government spending, correct? That means it is measuring economic destruction as if it were consensual production.

GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports)

[joconnor]

#1 isn’t meant to _rule out_ child abuse. Perfection not being an option we have to look at incentives over the long term. Bureaucrats have no incentive to care about any particular child. In fact, state child protective services are notoriously bad at it. The state destroys the social structures of support and discipline and encourage uncivilized behavior.
#2 grand parents may not be able to “press charges” but that is hardly the only way to solve a problem. Because it is outside of a legal system doesn’t mean it violates the assumptions.

[joconnor]

Writing, “I love you, man!” on someone’s wall is a trespass. Writing, “I’m going to hurt you!” is a trespass and a threat. If there is a threat then it is a different level of violation. But the threat would have to be proved.

[joconnor]

1. Parents have the most pressing interest in the wellbeing of a child.
2. Grandparents have the 2nd most pressing interest in the wellbeing of a child.
3. Extended family after that, then family friends.

A free society which persisted would depend on intergenerational obligations, culture, and shaming. Exactly what constitutes abuse would doubtless vary accordingly.

[joconnor]

To review, under the last few administrations it has been common place for the government to spy on everything, monitor all financial transactions, be able to disappear or kill anyone with “due process” which amounts to someone somewhere claims to have thought about it deeply, and now they’re trying to eliminate the instruments by which a single individual could put up a meaningful resistance (no comment on whether or not this is a good idea). I’m sure this is all an unfortunate coincidence.

[joconnor]

Having been in an argument with a “Constitutional Conservative” recently, where he tried to justify NASA and basic research as “Constitutional” under the heading of weights and measures, I’ve decided that government is how you make your neighbors pay for what you want. Limited government is how you keep your neighbors from making you pay for what they want. Or, just what Bastiat said:

Government is the fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else.

[joconnor]

However, we ARE in a much different world from the 1700s. The notion that the people will “take back” their liberty by force of arms is ludicrous. A population which wishes to be tyrannized (as does that of the US) will be tyrannized.

Ettienne de la Boettie

[joconnor]

The state is just the most successful criminals in a society. Obviously we should let them decide what private people should own or not own.

[joconnor]

Private murder is much less of a problem than state murder. A private murderer will probably even suffer some substantial discomfort as a result. Public murderers just get retirement checks (check out Lon Horiuchi, Bill Clinton, George Bush, pick one).

If you want to disarm someone, start with those in the employ of the State.

[joconnor]

The progress you make isn’t always obvious. Few of us came to the cause of liberty on first hearing it. Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase.

[joconnor]

D.C. and its spawn kill many times more innocent men, women and children than private individuals do. Disarm them. You’re 150 times more likely to be killed by a cop than by a terrorist. If you insist on living in fear, at least have rational ones.

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