Walter Hudson is the most thoughtful conservative writer in Minnesota Republican circles, bar none. Nonetheless, of this essay, I must say what G.K Chesterton commented on an essay by Oscar Wilde -- It is like the statute of the Venus de Milo; what there is of it is magnificent. Much is missing, and Walter overlooks some key points. First, his examples all relate to a powerless individual confronted by a all-powerful coercive force. He analogizes paying taxes to a thief taking money at gunpoint. In both cases, he argues, it is a rational decision to hand over your money. I agree, but I would ask does he not agree that for the sake of making the process run smoother we should not compromise and establish a rate of exchange with the thief whereby every time he puts a gun to our head, we give him half our money and avoid the threat of him shooting us? Would not that be a sacrifice of principle that concedes the thief has a *right* to our money? A second point Walter overlooks is that what I acquiesce to as a individual within the context of the system is a different expectation than that for a lawmaker sent to change the situation. An individual may use social security, but our representatives should not be legitimizing the system by trying to save it instead of addressing the fundamental issue of ensuring seniors arent eating cat food, which does not preclude moving to a free market, self-directed system. Much like the example above, compromise is only possible when both parties are reasoning from a common principle -- bartering in the market, for example. A third point, specifically relating to ObamaCare, is where are we on Jeffersons long train of abuses and usurpations? Is ObamaCare simply another sufferable evil or is it the one that ignites the right and duty of the people to throw off the government that would impose it? In short, I agree with Walters argument, but I think it is made on an inappropriate level for the question at hand.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:26:49 +0000
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