The Soapbox

Joined: 08/17/2015 Posts: 438
Likes: 288

What's this?

We are starting to get into free will which I don't really want to get into

On your second paragraph, I agree and disagree.

The reason why people fight so hard over politics is because of the power that is at stake. I definitely agree. But a couple of caveats. First, your argument ignores that there is something different today. Politics seemed to work better in the middle of last century, and has slowly been going downhill. The power that the government can wield hasn't really changed (since the 1940s), but the effectiveness of the process has changed. Thus a factor that has stayed constant (government power) cannot really explain it. I think there are ton of factors, but kill-or-be-killed partisanship is part of it in my view. And a note. Yes, I am making a normative judgement that government should be used to solve public problems.

Second (which I think is the more interesting question), do you care about power in general or only government power? I believe that power, both public and private, can trample of liberty and freedom. Both should be restrained, and either being too big and powerful is bad for a democratic (small d) America. It is what Justice Brandeis called the curse of bigness.

(In response to this post by Hokie5150)

Posted: 06/14/2017 at 8:13PM

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Pete Williams says shooter is 66 year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville -- JMHoo 06/14/2017 10:47AM

Illinois has strict gun controls. ** -- ConnHoo 06/14/2017 10:51PM

Clearly a deranged nutjob -- Fuzzy Dunlop 06/14/2017 12:12PM

Sane people just post on message boards!!** -- Shenhoo 06/14/2017 12:24PM

wait, what!!!! ** -- FfxStationHokie 06/14/2017 12:33PM

That's our story, and we're sticking to it! ** -- Hoodafan 06/14/2017 12:30PM

I bet he spent a lot of time fighting the comment section wars -- KCHoo 06/14/2017 12:27PM

Article on him -- KCHoo 06/14/2017 11:47AM

“Terminate the Republican Party.” ** -- LAHOOters 06/14/2017 11:45AM

Shooter is dead, per Trump. ** -- JMHoo 06/14/2017 11:38AM

Pity. Too bad he died without knowing he didn't kill a single person. -- MaizeAndBlueWahoo 06/14/2017 12:51PM

Actually a good statement by the President today. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 06/14/2017 11:42AM

Facebook (same name anyway) shows him as pro-Bernie, anti-Trump. -- SchmHoo 06/14/2017 11:02AM

Thankfully he was a terrible shot...at least during this event. ** -- Tuckahokie 06/14/2017 11:20AM

Really lucky the majority whip was there. otherwise the police -- KCHoo 06/14/2017 12:07PM

The world leaps to google, misinformation will start to fly -- Quaker 06/14/2017 10:56AM

Well, his Facebook profile is pretty accessible -- dajoka004 06/14/2017 11:03AM

I saw this on another message board but I think it sums up the problem: -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 11:38AM

Other people don't make one anything. We have the ability to choose -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 12:04PM

I agree with you but the problem is the classic prisoner's dilemma coupled -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 4:50PM

You'll have to forgive me, but I'm not seeing where either -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 5:20PM

I meant that there are structural reasons why people can't just change -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 5:46PM

People change their viewpoints everyday. The only structural -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 5:56PM

Haha. We are starting to really go down the philosophical rabbit hole. -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 6:38PM

All I am saying is that a person's decision is ultimately up to them. Yes, -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 7:03PM

We are starting to get into free will which I don't really want to get into -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 8:13PM

I disagree that the power and scope of government has -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 9:56PM

Every non-compete contract, every forced arbitration clause, every -- Hoepner 06/14/2017 10:13PM

Public vs. Private power is irrelevant IF the government is acting in -- Hokie5150 06/15/2017 07:10AM

Your ideology ignores economic reality and makes unwarranted assumptions. -- Hoepner 06/15/2017 09:06AM

I absolutely do not believe the government should step in to -- Hokie5150 06/15/2017 09:50AM

Your conception of the rights of the individual is very limited. -- Hoepner 06/15/2017 10:15AM

As for monopoly, the vast majority of them are the result of, not desp... -- Hokie5150 06/15/2017 10:48AM

You are confusing the issue. -- Hoepner 06/15/2017 11:19AM

I'm am fine with concentrated private power...provided that power -- Hokie5150 06/15/2017 12:11PM

Don't hold your breath. ** -- Hooddihsm 06/14/2017 11:05AM

Country needs a strong leader right now. -- CyberHoo78 06/14/2017 11:14AM

We need the Rock!! ** -- walkthecorner 06/14/2017 11:20AM

I don't believe the nation would recognize a leader if it is saw one. ** -- Hokie5150 06/14/2017 11:19AM

Unfortunately this is true. Upon landing, aliens would receive blank -- HoozOnTop 06/14/2017 11:54AM

Damn, I'm agreeing with a Hokie. ** -- graycalhoo 06/14/2017 11:31AM

Sadly, that's the truth. ** -- VAGentleman05 06/14/2017 11:27AM

The man in charge suggested a 2nd amendment remedy if his opponent wins too ** -- hooshouse 06/14/2017 11:19AM

Forgot about that. ** -- HoosWillWin 06/14/2017 11:21AM

In the old days that protestor would leave on a stretcher ** -- hooshouse 06/14/2017 11:31AM

Called for his political opponent to be jailed. ** -- hooshouse 06/14/2017 11:41AM