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| The Myth of the Greater Good | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 27 2012, 12:51 AM (570 Views) | |
| Chris | Feb 27 2012, 12:51 AM Post #1 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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In the following, the basis of rationalization is emotionalism. I may have cut too much out of the original so you may want to follow the link. The Myth of the Greater Good
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| Mike | Feb 27 2012, 03:09 AM Post #2 |
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Well Chris, the subject matter becomes more relevant each year as the country increases in population and property rights in particular come under attack. In the news is the case of a local family who were one of the founding families in the valley. As southern Nevada boomed in jobs and population, this family that has immense land holdings formed a water and sewer company. The purpose of the venture being to serve several thousand new homes they had intended to build in several developments. When the housing market soured here, the sewer and water company had no further use to the family as development of homes was no longer feasible. Rather than having thousands of paying customers for the venture, only 7% of capacity was utilized for homes that had been built. This extremely influential family has manipulated the county commissioners to propose that the county purchase the utility company from the family. And the community is funding a study now to determine the feasibility. Despite protests, the acquisition appears to be heading towards a conclusion. The community has one utility company that is profitable but passed on the opportunity to purchase the one being considered by the county, because it was a money losing white elephant. I don't believe this is an unusual example in the country, as private interests trump the interests of citizens, with a conspiratorial nature existing between elected officials and business interests. We can debate the ethics and morals of people in these situations, but in many cases to no avail. If we point out public concern, we are met with legalese and lectures from the elected officials who dare we question their ethics. It's all for the common good that they make these decisions, and we should not question their wisdom and character. An apathy sets in among the residents when they come to a point of hopelessness and despair as their interests are superseded by the powerful. Appeals to reason and hope increasingly fall on deaf ears. |
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| Chris | Feb 27 2012, 03:23 AM Post #3 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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"I don't believe this is an unusual example in the country, as private interests trump the interests of citizens, and a conspiratorial nature between elected officials and business interests." I think, and have said elsewhere, that that crony capitalism is the inevitable unintended consequence of actions of government based on common good arguments. Such arguments tend to produce solutions that in turn become problems. Another example is found in the abortion thread where it is suggested by some of the same people who based on emotionalism advocate welfare then advocate solving the swelfare problem with abortion and sterilization of the people welfare was supposed to help. "We can debate the ethics and morals of people in these situations, but in many cases to no avail. If we point out public concern, we are met with legalese and lectures from the elected officials who dare we question their ethics. It's all for the common good that they make these decisions, and we should not question their wisdom and character. An apathy sets in among the residents when they come to a point of hopelessness and despair as their interested are superseded by the powerful. Appeals to reason and hope increasingly fall on deaf ears." Then it's time to replace them with those who would be ethical and moral: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends...". Great, thoughtful post, btw! Edited by Chris, Feb 27 2012, 03:24 AM.
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| Mike | Feb 27 2012, 03:34 AM Post #4 |
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If memory serves me, we had a debate here on imminent domain. One case comes to mind, where a township in New England took waterfront property away from families who had lived, farmed, were born and died on these properties for four hundred years. A large developer wanted the property for the development of condominiums. The town argued that the higher property taxes collected from the development justified their actions. I don't recall using the term crony capitalism nor have I studied the subject, but I think this case is a form of corruption of capitalism, which in itself is repulsive. |
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| Chris | Feb 27 2012, 03:43 AM Post #5 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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Agreed, Kelo v. City of New London was a case of corruption, the collusion of business and government to the detriment of home owners (crony capitalism). Obamacare is another stretch of the law, the commerce clause of the Constitution, supposedly for the common good, but written in collusion with insurance companies who stand to gain if only by an increase in customers. Now one might argue any of these cases could be said to have ends in the common good, but the means are not, they're driven by rationalization, emotionalism, overlooking alternative means. |
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| Mike | Feb 27 2012, 04:37 AM Post #6 |
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I won't stray off into the healthcare debate, as tempted as I am, but do agree with you that emotion laden arguments and twisted deceptive reasons designed to appear logical conclusions are used. Whenever I attend a council meeting, my ears are alert to such tactics. I think it is a duty we all as citizens have, to rise to the podium and question the merits and arguments be presented. It's a matter of being a good steward to the resources God provided me to do just that The elected leaders serve a higher authority than us and although He will hold them accountable, He expects us to do the same at this level. You Chris and others here may have similar or in your minds just as important an ethical charge to do the same. We must speak up and challenge this corruption. |
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| Chris | Feb 27 2012, 04:50 AM Post #7 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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Agree. |
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| tomdrobin | Feb 27 2012, 09:14 AM Post #8 |
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I don't see where government always uses the policy of the ends justifying the means. It's not a black and white issue. Granted there have been some emminent domain issues that were wrong. But, to us that as an excuse to bash government is just more of the same old extremists argument for limiting government. |
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| Chris | Feb 27 2012, 09:18 AM Post #9 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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"I don't see where government always uses the policy of the ends justifying the means." Not the argument here, here the argument is liberals emotionally rationalize government solutions to problems and thereby create more problems. It's like a self-perpetuating machine. "It's not a black and white issue." Exactly, and therefore requires rational problem solving. |
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| colo_crawdad | Feb 27 2012, 09:16 PM Post #10 |
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Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
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Perhaps it should also be noted that most instances of the misuse of eminent domain has been done by local governments, that level of government often referred to as "closest to the people" and, to some, "social governance." |
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