Democracy is often used as a moral equivalence to the free market where individuals vote with their dollars (sorry, currency) continuously. This is wrong as the market does not compel others based on individual or cumulative transactions and the market has greater choice than that of democracy therefore the free market is morally superior to democracy. Few historical thesis describe democracy better than Alexander Tytler as this, written around 220 years ago:
“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”
No description is more accurate to me in describing the advanced nature of the west today with the following coming a close second:
“The State is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.” - Frederic Bastiat
Well,well,well......................a little dig at my home state (Oklahoma) by a man who has most likely never been here! I willingly moved here to escape the Covid 19 rules and regulations in California; and the oppressive liberal behavior, wasteful tax structures, unkind people, and an inability to profit from anything except real estate. I owned my own business for 32 years there , but that was not enough to sustain a "good" living. What I got, when I moved here, was wonderful people, an economy that kept everyone happy and fed, and the ability to live unfettered by a state that has lost it's way. We have lakes, green fields, agriculture as it used to be, and by the way......tons of mansions, uber rich folks, million dollar properties, and raw land for building. Add to that the best doctors in the world, and the best football!
You see, Mr. Joel B, we have oil. The affluent here may drive pick-up trucks, and wear jeans, but for only 4 (four) million people in the state, we do okay. Tulsa and Oklahoma city are quite sophisticated, with museums, expensive restaurants, and nice hotels. Oklahoma is not in debt to anyone, there is quite a lot of money in our banks, and (shockingly) some of our people own estate houses that are on 160 acres or more. We even like Arkansas, and Hot Springs Village is quite nice. It has 9 (nine) golf courses just behind it's gates.
Maybe some day you will come see for yourself. You are a good writer, but this was impolite, and uncalled for.
Hi Lauran, thanks for writing. No dig intended there at all (except, perhaps, toward the Canadian government). Your description of Oklahoma sounds delightful and is more or less in line with what I've heard of the place. I've visited Hot Springs Village before, which was a real treat, as well as (I think) all of the surrounding states. It's a fantastic part of the country and I'm glad you've found happiness there. Cheers!
Joel B got at least one thing very wrong. Indira Gandhi was not voted out of office but assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards. The reasons for this are not all that complex, but her last living son immediately was elevated into her place. He, a former airline pilot, was deemed qualified by his heritage if not experience.
You're right, Stacy, Gandhi was indeed assassinated while in office... but only after returning to power in 1980. My point was precisely that she had already been voted out of office in 1977, then voted back in three years later: crazy people can, and all to frequently do, get elected. So much for collective wisdom!
Democracy is often used as a moral equivalence to the free market where individuals vote with their dollars (sorry, currency) continuously. This is wrong as the market does not compel others based on individual or cumulative transactions and the market has greater choice than that of democracy therefore the free market is morally superior to democracy. Few historical thesis describe democracy better than Alexander Tytler as this, written around 220 years ago:
“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”
No description is more accurate to me in describing the advanced nature of the west today with the following coming a close second:
“The State is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.” - Frederic Bastiat
One group's democratically-elected leader is the other group's scoundrel. And unless you meet one group, you don't know whose side you're on.
"Many people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." -Bertrand Russell (RIP)
Good for you!................enjoy what the ignorant call "fly over" country! Seattle is sad, at this point!......Love BAMA, as well!
Well,well,well......................a little dig at my home state (Oklahoma) by a man who has most likely never been here! I willingly moved here to escape the Covid 19 rules and regulations in California; and the oppressive liberal behavior, wasteful tax structures, unkind people, and an inability to profit from anything except real estate. I owned my own business for 32 years there , but that was not enough to sustain a "good" living. What I got, when I moved here, was wonderful people, an economy that kept everyone happy and fed, and the ability to live unfettered by a state that has lost it's way. We have lakes, green fields, agriculture as it used to be, and by the way......tons of mansions, uber rich folks, million dollar properties, and raw land for building. Add to that the best doctors in the world, and the best football!
You see, Mr. Joel B, we have oil. The affluent here may drive pick-up trucks, and wear jeans, but for only 4 (four) million people in the state, we do okay. Tulsa and Oklahoma city are quite sophisticated, with museums, expensive restaurants, and nice hotels. Oklahoma is not in debt to anyone, there is quite a lot of money in our banks, and (shockingly) some of our people own estate houses that are on 160 acres or more. We even like Arkansas, and Hot Springs Village is quite nice. It has 9 (nine) golf courses just behind it's gates.
Maybe some day you will come see for yourself. You are a good writer, but this was impolite, and uncalled for.
Hi Lauran, thanks for writing. No dig intended there at all (except, perhaps, toward the Canadian government). Your description of Oklahoma sounds delightful and is more or less in line with what I've heard of the place. I've visited Hot Springs Village before, which was a real treat, as well as (I think) all of the surrounding states. It's a fantastic part of the country and I'm glad you've found happiness there. Cheers!
I was keen on leaving Seattle, late 2020. Had enough!
Passed through Oklahoma on Super Bowl Sunday ‘21; little traffic. I was struck by the frugalness of the state,… and I expressed my candid approval!!
Rural Alabama has now been my home, and there’s so much good to embrace.
You are forgiven, and I hope that your travels find you back here again!
Joel B got at least one thing very wrong. Indira Gandhi was not voted out of office but assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards. The reasons for this are not all that complex, but her last living son immediately was elevated into her place. He, a former airline pilot, was deemed qualified by his heritage if not experience.
You're right, Stacy, Gandhi was indeed assassinated while in office... but only after returning to power in 1980. My point was precisely that she had already been voted out of office in 1977, then voted back in three years later: crazy people can, and all to frequently do, get elected. So much for collective wisdom!