Brexit
I've been watching how the UK referendum to leave the European Union has been playing out.
As an American I've no horse in that race. As a libertarian, triply so. But it's been fascinating.
I have to mention Brexit The Movie, which some of my conservative and libertarian e•friends have had some really intense talks over.
I can't help but notice that this seems to be very much a class thing. The "upper class" and the upper-class wanna bes are dedicated to Stay, while the lower and middle class want to Leave. It's hard to tell from across an ocean.
Without the add-ons that inevitably attach to any political cause, many people seem to be making the same best argument to leave. Natalie Solent at Samizdata put it well.
As an American I've no horse in that race. As a libertarian, triply so. But it's been fascinating.
I have to mention Brexit The Movie, which some of my conservative and libertarian e•friends have had some really intense talks over.
I can't help but notice that this seems to be very much a class thing. The "upper class" and the upper-class wanna bes are dedicated to Stay, while the lower and middle class want to Leave. It's hard to tell from across an ocean.
Without the add-ons that inevitably attach to any political cause, many people seem to be making the same best argument to leave. Natalie Solent at Samizdata put it well.
““Because I think it’s vital that you are able to vote out a government.””
That's it. Simple and to the point.
Government should never be beyond the control of the citizens. If you don't like it, you should be able to vote it out. Failing that, you should be able to leave.
But what do I know? I'm just a silly American with no understanding of the real purpose of government. How it's there for your own good even if it means not answering to the people. Why should government answer to people, right?
Government should never be beyond the control of the citizens. If you don't like it, you should be able to vote it out. Failing that, you should be able to leave.
But what do I know? I'm just a silly American with no understanding of the real purpose of government. How it's there for your own good even if it means not answering to the people. Why should government answer to people, right?
““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.””
It's the difference between the "top down" and "bottom up" models of government. It's why the American Revolution (mostly) worked and the French Revolution (mostly) failed. No one is going to start perfectly, but the "bottom up" model leaves room to change by the people.
The "top down" model is always going to depend on force. No one can be allowed to question, because that exposes government's fallibility.
It should not surprise you that I believe most problems in America are because our elites want to change our government from "bottom up" to "top down." For our own good, of course. And because they know better.
Government SHOULD be very worried about what people will do. And people should not trust government.
Government is not your friend.
The "top down" model is always going to depend on force. No one can be allowed to question, because that exposes government's fallibility.
It should not surprise you that I believe most problems in America are because our elites want to change our government from "bottom up" to "top down." For our own good, of course. And because they know better.
Government SHOULD be very worried about what people will do. And people should not trust government.
Government is not your friend.
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