Capitalism vs. Statism

An Introduction to Welcome You

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Welcome to my expose of comparing Capitalism (with all its benefits) against Statism (and all its destructiveness). My blog is set up somewhat differently from the norm. I have designed it so that the postings are pre-entered, using the Blog Index as a way of creating a sense of hierarchy in presenting my writings and thoughts regarding Capitalism versus Statism - from beginning fundamentals to final conclusions. Readers can also use the Blog Index as a guide to my writings. Some blog postings are quite long, and some postings are very short, with everything in between.

My personal and private objective for this project was to formulate and attempt to provide an additional educational awareness for anyone interested in learning what Capitalism and Statism represent. I hope you find my work helpful in this endeavor. My educational context is that I am a self-educated layman on the topics of Capitalism and Statism, including general economics, philosophy, history, psychology, and politics. My professions are civil engineering design and drafting, and piano and music composition. One pays the bills, one pays the spirit.

I was not paid to write down my thoughts and ideas, nor was I paid to create this blog. I did so on my own time, when time allowed. Like using your own money and time to build your own house - meaning you are not paid to build it - you do so in parts when your own funding and time allows. And so with this blog – I built it as my free time allowed. Like building your own house, there is that pleasure in seeing the fruits of your own labor come into existence, and so with this blog in comparing Capitalism vs. Statism.

I have chosen to build the foundation of this blog on the concepts of Capitalism and Statism as fundamentally defined and presented in the intellectual works by philosopher and writer Ayn Rand. Over the past 30 years of my own independent study, I have found that her writings of Capitalism and Statism, along with the writings of economists Ludwig von Mises and Dr. George Reisman, to be the most fundamentally accurate of any I have studied.

In regards to any writing style of my blog site, there is really only one item I wish to point out. In writing and organizing the body of text, in many areas I deliberately and purposefully repeat over and over and over again certain concepts and ideas, only with the purpose of hammering away at their importance in understanding Capitalism versus Statism.

The method I used to set up my blog was loosely based on an interesting architectural idea by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, one he used in laying out and planning the entrances to many of his building designs – a sort of guiding principle that he referred to as creating a “path of discovery.” As you walked through the entrance area of one of his buildings, you were directed to “discover” and notice architectural features, artwork, outside views, display nooks, etc. I think that such a concept can also be useful to help stimulate one’s mind, intellect, imagination, and even encourage one to learn new things, as you walk through an entrance.

My hope is that as you read through my blog – as you “walk through” my list of Items “1, 2, 3…” to the end of the list, that my own “path of discovery” might spark your interest to learn more about Capitalism, individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and that you might discover and learn the differences between Capitalism and Statism, and why Capitalism represents peace, freedom, rights, and life for any and all individual human beings worldwide, and why Statism represents tyranny, force, institutionalized slavery, and death for any and all human beings worldwide.

Before I finish here, I would like to thank some very special people in my life that helped along the way in making this project a reality, from beginning to end. Thanks to my close friends both Beth Haynes and Gen LaGreca, who each in their own way, and out of their busy lives, offered encouragement, praise, and inspiration for my writings. Also, thanks to my dear friends, Mick and Barbara O'Connell, who not only offered their own encouragement, praise, and inspiration, but to Mick for taking the time to do a full edit of my text, catching spelling and grammar errors, and offering suggestions to content. And finally, a "big" soulmate thanks to my dearest wife, best friend, and "partner-in-crime" writer, A. Colleen Cargill, who offered her own unlimited love, support, encouragement, inspiration, and boundless patience with me and my writing during the two years it took to write this work (end of 2006 to end of 2008), while we both were also working full-time, composing music, and just living life. To all of you, a very warm thank you.

So, without further ado, I invite you into my world of thought and ideas regarding Capitalism vs. Statism. Enjoy!

A Brief Word about Mixed-Economies

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The idea of “mixed-economy” must be briefly addressed before I begin my discussions regarding Capitalism versus Statism. Mixed-economies are not true capitalist social-political-economic systems. In Ayn Rand’s words, a mixed-economy is simply a “semi-socialized economy” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal). What does this mean? Mixed-economies are social-political systems that are a “mixture” of limited free-market economics and limited individual rights, including limited property rights, limited because of all types and degrees of statist-socialist-communist-Marxist governmental restrictions, intervention, policies, mandates, regulation, and coercive force controlling the economy and an individual’s life. Mixed-economies are a “mix” of limited free-market economies that have become statist oriented social-political systems, each system differing only in various degrees to the extent that free-market trade and commerce, along with any limited individual freedom and rights, including property rights, that are allowed to exist and function only through coercive government force. To drive the point further, a mixed-economy is a limited-capitalistic social-political-economic system with limited individual rights and property rights, a system that is restricted, manipulated, regulated, mandated, and controlled by statist governments and their policies to various degrees. Again, in Ayn Rand’s words, a mixed-economy is a “semi-enslaved society” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal). Mixed-economies are NOT true laissez-faire capitalist social-political systems, by any stretch of the imagination. Examples of “mixed-economy” social-political systems are present-day United States, Canada, England, or Sweden. (Yes, including Sweden. Sweden is not the shinny example of a successful “pure” socialist state as many people wish it were. Sweden is nothing more than an advanced mixed-economy political system, surviving only because enough elements of the free-market (business) and individual rights, including property rights, that are still allowed to exist and function, all heavily controlled by advanced statist-socialist policies, regulations, and coercive government force. Cuba, on the other hand, is almost the perfect “pure” example of true Socialism: Communism – complete State ownership and control of the economy and culture. In my opinion, Cuba is a true “pure” socialist [statist] economic and cultural disaster.)

Formulations, Ponderings, and Quotes

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This posting showcases various formulations, ponderings, and quotes by myself and other selected authors (with whom I have acquired permission to post when necessary) that I think express the essential elements in applying Capitalism and Freedom. I will be continually adding to this posting, so make sure you visit often. Thanks.

POSTING No. 1

Encouraged by, and inspired by, my good friend Beth Haynes (see her blog "Wealth is not the Problem" ), who came up with a brilliant way of formulating and expressing rational, fundamental concepts in a clear, concise manner. She herself was inspired by a famous formulation by President Abraham Lincoln. His formulation was this:

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my ideas of democracy."
--- Abraham Lincoln, (1809-1865) 16th U.S. President

This is my inspired formulation regarding Capitalism:

"As I would not want my life and freedom controlled by the state, so I would not want the state to control the lives and freedoms of all other men. This expresses my ideas of Capitalism."
--- John Dick, 2008 U.S. Citizen

This was Beth Haynes' formulation regarding Morality:

"As I would not be a victim, so I would not be a thief. This expresses my idea of morality."
--- Beth Haynes, 2008 U.S. Citizen

Thanks Beth!

POSTING No. 2

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
--- Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826) 3rd U.S. President

For a full collection of quotes by Thomas Jefferson (and many others), see BrainyQuote.com.

1. Defining Fundamentals

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The Defining Fundamentals of Capitalism:

Ayn Rand describes Capitalism as a social system that recognizes individual rights, including property rights, where all property is privately owned.

For the full discussion and exact text by Ayn Rand regarding Capitalism, refer to her book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 1, “What is Capitalism?” pb, pp. 11-34, def. p. 19 (Signet, ~1980).

Also see an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings at Capitalism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/.

VERSUS -

The Defining Fundamentals of Statism:

Ayn Rand describes Statism as a social system based on the fundamental idea that “man’s life belongs to the state,” where the government, or any ruling group, regulates and controls a country’s economy in any manner or to any extent, “for any purpose whatsoever.”

For the full discussion and exact text by Ayn Rand regarding Statism, refer to her book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 19, “Conservation: An Obituary,” pb, pp. 192-201, def. p. 192 (Signet, ~1980).

Also see an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings on Statism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/.

The following is My Interpretation and Commentary.

REGARDING CAPITALISM:

The two fundamental principles of Capitalism are:

(1) A social system that recognizes individual rights, including property rights;
(2) All property is privately owned.

The principle of recognizing individual rights, including property rights, not only applies to the private individual, but also implies recognizing commerce and business rights as well – since commerce and business is essentially the application of individual freedom, individual rights, including property rights, to commerce and business activities. And that a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government of a true, laissez-faire capitalist society will have NO constitutional and/or legal power to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, and/or control - in any manner whatsoever - the economy, meaning all commerce, all trade, all banking, and all business, including the use of any and all property associated with commerce, trade, banking, and business.

For a brief, yet important, discussion regarding the concept of what a “right” is and what it implies, including references to the writings by Ayn Rand regarding rights, please see Item No. 5 below.

NOTE: The purpose of first creating a proper, objective constitutional document for a capitalist society is to establish, define, outline and set the limits of the proper, objective functions of a constitutionally-limited government. Furthermore, such a constitutional document is established to recognize (not decreed by the government), preserve, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, derivative freedoms, and all free-market commerce - and to limit and prevent the government from interfering with, infringing upon, limiting, prohibiting, dictating, regulating, mandating, violating, and controlling individual rights, including property rights, derivative freedoms, and all commerce. Finally, such a constitutional document would prevent any and all forms of government taxation on any wealth, income, profit, trade, and commerce – and establish a non-taxation method of financing the government.

A Capitalist-oriented Constitution is designed to limit and control the government, and to outline its only proper functions of recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting man’s individual rights, including property rights.

Reference Items Nos. 4, 9, and 10 below.

REGARDING STATISM:

The two fundamental principles of Statism are:

(1) A social system established based on the fundamental idea that the individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group);
(2) The government regulates and controls a country’s (or geographic region’s) economy.

The fundamental idea that an individual’s life belongs to the state implies that individual rights, including property rights, are NOT recognized, preserved, defended, or protected by the statist government. Therefore, all manner of abuse, infringement, regulation, control, and violation against an individual’s life and rights, property rights, all derivative freedoms, including against all commerce and business freedom and activities, are possible and occur under any social-political system of Statism.

NOTE: The constitutional documents of statist governments, even if one exists, are always formed and established under the premise that an individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group), and usually set up so that the state is given the coercive power to regulate, limit, and control the lives and actions of its citizenry and business. Usually, such statist constitutional documents will not only define what “duties” the citizenry must follow, but may also define, outline, layout, and decree which particular rights and freedoms (if any) the individual, the citizenry, and businesses will be allowed by the government to practice, and under which particular conditions and/or limits they will be allowed to practice such.

A Statist-oriented Constitution, if one exists at all, is designed to limit and control individual and economic freedom for all citizens involved, and outlined to preserve political power and institutionalize tyrannical force by the state over society.

Reference Items Nos. 4, 9, and 10 below.

2. Essential Elements

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CAPITALISM: (My Interpretation)

A true capitalist society is any laissez-faire free-market oriented social-political system that is defended and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited, representational government. A capitalist society is any social-political system that is established under the following rational - meaning moral - principles and practices of:

(a) Individual freedom and liberty, with the recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of individual rights, including property rights, and all associated derivative freedoms (such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of religion, or the freedom from religion); an individual’s life (man or woman) belongs to themselves, and only to themselves – not to the state (government or ruling group);
(b) private ownership of all property, both personal and business, physical and intellectual; this includes an individual’s physical body and mind;
(c) a laissez-faire free-market economy, meaning an economy of complete economic freedom for all individuals and businesses, completely unregulated open trade and commerce (including such things as medicine, education, and transportation), with unregulated, free banking systems based on a gold standard, for all individuals and businesses, both domestic and international – meaning an economy that is completely unregulated with no control or infringement upon by the government in any manner whatsoever, including no state (government, ruling group, or federally controlled) central banking system or reserve;
(d) the objective rule of law;
(e) a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government, who’s only purpose is to protect man's rights, meaning to protect man from physical violence (Ayn Rand). In this manner, a proper government is limited to its only proper three functions:
- (1) a proper military to defend and protect against the initiation of physical force and/or invation by foreign nations or groups,
- (2) a proper police and law enforcement system established to defend and protect the individual and his property against the initiation of force and any physical violence by criminals,
- (3) an objective justice system (courts) established to defend and protect individual rights, property rights, and all associated derivative freedoms, to uphold contracts against breach or fraud by others, and to settle disputes using a properly established rational and objective code of rules and laws (Ayn Rand); and to apply and enforce such objectively defined and established rules and laws.

As Ayn Rand states, the only proper purpose and function of a government is to recognize and protect the rights of man, and in doing so, the government holds the monopoly on the use of physical force, and under Capitalism, it must be a legal monopoly, not arbitrary and lawless. In order to recognize and protect the rights of man, the government’s legal use of force must be controlled and limited by “objectively” defined rules and laws designed to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual rights, including property rights. Only a social-political system of Capitalism can offer such a government, and only can individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, survive under such an objectively established, constitutionally-limited government.

Under a true, proper laissez-faire capitalistic social-political system, the constitutionally-limited government, any individual, citizen, or any business cannot use the government to develop, design, pass, establish, legalize, mandate, and/or force any policies, legislation, laws, regulations, or mandates that interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control, in any way, individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, including any and all forms of commerce and business, and its associated practices and activities.

A word regarding Special Interest Groups under Capitalism:

Special Interest Groups (political, public, private, or business), including their Lobbyists, that cater to using government favors, coercive force, and manipulation to promote and force their agenda, policies, programs, and demands onto, and against, businesses and the citizenry – as well as those individuals, groups, and businesses that also compete for and benefit from government favors, manipulation, welfare, subsidies, and funds for their own activities, including controlling, manipulating, or forcing out business competition - would not exist under true Capitalism. WHY? Because, basically they would be useless. Under true Capitalism, there are no government programs, monies, or funds available for any type of welfare or subsidies (either individual or business, public or private), as there is no forced taxation or fees (redistribution of wealth), of any kind, by the constitutionally-limited government, while all legitimate government funds are directed ONLY towards the government’s proper functions of recognizing and protecting individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and all unregulated commerce and economic activities - AND because coercive government force cannot be used to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and including any and all forms of commerce, business, and banking, with all associated practices and activities.

Under true Capitalism, perhaps the only type of Special Interest Groups that might exist could be groups that petition the government to keep a vigilant watch of any legitimate violations or infringements upon individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, or against unregulated commerce and business.

For a full discussion and exact text by Ayn Rand regarding the nature of government, refer to her book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 14, “The Nature of Government,” pb, pp. 107-115 (Signet, ~1980).

An Important Note:

From my studies and interpretations thus far in understanding Capitalism, I have concluded that a proper, rational, and clear understanding of the concept of freedom, and its rational application, is so fundamentally important and necessary in establishing, and preserving, a society of Capitalism, and that the rational concept of freedom underlies, fundamentally, all of what I have just listed above as the essential elements of Capitalism. I was first introduced to this idea of the rational application of freedom through the writings of Dr. George Reisman, from both his pamphlet essay Freedom and from his book Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics. In Dr. Reisman’s essay Freedom, he introduces and discusses the Rational Concept of Freedom versus the Anarchic Concept of Freedom, and what both approaches represent.

Item No. 3 below includes my own discussion regarding the Rational Concept of Freedom versus the Anarchic Concept of Freedom in relation to my own comparison of Capitalism versus Statism. I included such a discussion because I think, again, freedom is so very fundamentally important a concept in understanding the requirements of establishing and preserving a capitalist society and economic system.

The discussion about freedom that follows, in Item No. 3 below, is my own interpretation and commentary from a layman’s perspective – and only that - and though I do make many references to Dr. Reisman’s works in my writings to help guide my thoughts, I strongly recommend reading Dr. Reisman’s book Capitalism and his pamphlet essay Freedom directly and thoroughly – including also any references to Ayn Rand’s writings – for one’s own understanding of the concept of freedom.

VERSUS -

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF STATISM: (My Interpretation)

A statist system is any and all types of social-political systems, governments, and/or ruling group-systems (see Item No. 10 below for list) that are established under the following irrational - meaning immoral - principles and principles of:

(a) an individual’s life unquestionably belongs to the state (government or ruling group), usually maintained under the threat of physical force, terror, property confiscation, imprisonment, and/or death by the state (government or ruling group), such as “pay your taxes or go to prison” – control of individual and economic freedom through government control and enslavement (slavery) – limited or no liberty, individual rights, including property rights, or derivative freedoms; collective slavery; institutionalized slavery; selective government sanctioned discrimination;
(b) partial-to-total state (governmental) interference, infringement, limitation, restriction, regulation, and control of all property, personal and business, physical and intellectual. If private property does exist, or is allowed to exist, under a statist system, it is usually heavily controlled, regulated, and taxed;
(c) partial-to-total state (governmental) interference, limitation, regulation, mandating, and control of a country’s economic system (meaning any and/or all commerce, business, and banking activity and applications);
(d) the arbitrary rule of men, and/or the mob; legislation and laws established to keep the ruling government, group, or gang - religious or secular - in power and control;
(e) a corrupt justice system (courts), established to enforce arbitrary, coercive, corrupt, and immoral legislation and laws that infringe upon, violate, and control the individual’s life, liberty, rights, and property, including any and/or all associated business and economic freedom, activity, and property, again to keep the ruling government, group, or gang - religious or secular - in power and control;
(f) a corrupt military and police (law enforcement) system established and used to keep the citizenry and economy controlled and enslaved, including infringing upon and violating individual rights and property through physical force and violence, intimidation and terror, imprisonment and even murder if necessary; such a military is also often used to invade other countries, spreading war and imperialism.

Ayn Rand points out that Statism, or collectivism, is the political application of the philosophy of altruism, or the philosophy of self-sacrifice. Statism is based on the negative premise that both man’s life and his work belong only to the state (the government or ruling group), and that, because of this, the state may use and discard man (the individual human being) in any manner it so wishes, for whatever reason and purpose it so chooses, for its “own tribal, collective good” (Ayn Rand).

For the full discussion and exact text on this point, see Ayn Rand’s newsletter The Objectivist Newsletter, 1962, from her essay “Introducing Objectivism,” p. 35.

Further, as I understand Ayn Rand’s writings, a statist government infringes upon and violates the freedom and the rights of man in any manner for whatever purpose, through the principle that, under Statism, the government holds a corrupt, arbitrary, and coercive monopoly on the use of physical force, ruling by brutal force when necessary. Under Statism, the government – or any ruling group - has unlimited and uncontrolled coercive force, power and control over the citizenry and economy.

It is my view that the reason a statist government must hold a corrupt, arbitrary, and coercive monopoly on the use of physical force against its citizenry, is because under Statism the government is established based on the fundamental premise that man’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group), and that the state (government or ruling group) must use such force to maintain its power and control over its “ownership” of the citizenry and economy.

I think that most individual human beings desire to live freely as individuals with economic freedom, meaning Capitalism. However, if one does not want, or does not like, Capitalism as a social-political system, then the only other alternative for a social-political system to live under is some form of Statism, meaning some form of political force and tyranny – or at best, some mismatched spectacle of a mixed-economy. And, the only way to establish some form of Statism is through the use of corrupt, arbitrary, and coercive government force, as it is the only way to control and have power over the citizenry and economy – and to preserve the fundamental statist premise that man’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group).

Again, the only two social-political alternatives that exist for mankind is to live and associate freely, voluntarily, and peacefully with each other under Capitalism with Freedom, or live in collective slavery, misery, and tyranny under Statism with Force.

For a full discussion on the nature of Statism, see these Ayn Rand essays from her book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal -
- “The Roots of War” – Chapter 2
- “America’s Persecuted Minority: Big Business” – Chapter 3
- “Let Us Alone!” – Chapter 13
- “Conservatism: An Obituary” – Chapter 19
including Ayn Rand’s article “War and Peace,” The Objectivist Newsletter, Oct. 1962, p. 44.

A word regarding Special Interest Groups under Statism:

Special Interest Groups (political, public, private, or business), including their Lobbyists, that cater to using government favors, coercive force, and manipulation to promote and force their agenda, policies, programs, and demands onto, and against, businesses and the citizenry - as well as those groups and businesses that compete for and benefit from government favors, welfare, subsidies, and funds for their own activities, including controlling, manipulating, or forcing out business competition – increase and flourish under Statism, especially in mixed-economies, such as the current United States of America. WHY? Because, under Statism, there is essentially an unlimited source and supply of government monies and funds available for any and all types of welfare or subsidies or programs (for both individual or business, both public and private) due to government forced taxation and fees onto all the citizenry and economy, including even the deliberate confiscation of private property and wealth of innocent individuals and businesses – with this corrupt and coercive government action actually encouraged and supported by the same Special Interest Groups that compete for, and benefit from, coercive government force, including government taxation, favors, manipulation, welfare, subsidies, monies, and funds.

In my opinion, Special Interest Groups (political, public, private, or business), including their Lobbyists, that cater to using coercive government force, favors, and manipulation to promote and force their agenda, policies, programs, and demands onto, and against, businesses and the citizenry, as well as those groups and businesses that compete for and benefit from government favors, welfare, subsidies, and funds for their own activities, including controlling, manipulating, or forcing out business competition, are all statist-oriented groups, or become statist-oriented groups, as Statism grows and spreads throughout a society.

3. Rational Freedom vs. Anarchic Freedom

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Both the Rational Concept of Freedom and the Anarchic Concept of Freedom were Introduced by Dr. George Reisman in his book Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 1, “Economics and Capitalism,” Part B, “Capitalism,” pp. 23-26 (Jameson Books, 1998). Also see Dr. George Reisman’s pamphlet essay Freedom, pp. 8-13.

Please refer to Dr. Reisman’s writings suggested above for his extended full text and explanation of this very important concept. Because the proper (rational) use of the concept of freedom is such an essential element to understanding, establishing, and preserving Capitalism, as well as truly preserving our individual freedom and rights, I highly recommend your own thorough study to fully understand the Rational Concept of Freedom and the Anarchic Concept of Freedom.

Also see Ayn Rand’s writings at the Ayn Rand Lexicon regarding Freedom and Individual Rights. -- To truly understand rights, I encourage and recommend reading Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb, pp. 92-100 (Signet, ~1980).

I include the Rational Concept of Freedom under Capitalism in this comparison because I think that the proper application of the concept of freedom – that is, the rational and objective application of - is absolutely essential and fundamental to the establishment and preservation of a laissez-faire capitalist society, meaning a society of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, the objective rule of law, and an unregulated free-market economy - all recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government. Because there is so little understanding by the general public, in my opinion, of the true concept of freedom (as well as the concept of rights), I hope that my writings may help inspire the beginning of a genuine desire by the general public – especially in America - to learn, understand, and discuss what freedom really means and how to rationally apply it.

I include the Anarchic Concept of Freedom under Statism in this comparison because I think that the irrational application of the concept of freedom – that is, the anarchic and subjective application of – can be used as an underlying element in establishing a statist society, meaning a society of collective enslavement (individual human life belongs to the state) and of state restricted-regulated-controlled economy, all controlled and manipulated with government force by a statist-oriented, tyrannical government or ruling group. I use the words “can be used” because I think Statism can be established by other means besides using an anarchic approach to freedom, such as in an aggressive, unprovoked invasion into a free nation through direct military force by another criminal nation or group.

The following is My Interpretation of Dr. Reisman’s concepts:

REGARDING THE RATIONAL CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

As I understand, the Rational Concept of Freedom fundamentally centers around the absence of the initiation of physical force, specifically by the government, against an individual’s actions (and I would also add as an extension of the individual, a business’ actions) that are not in themselves the use of force against others; meaning actions that do not constitute a true violation or infringement – of any kind - against individual or economic freedom, against individual rights, or against property rights, including actions that do not truly prohibit or deny individual rights, including property rights; meaning actions that are based on the legitimate application and exercising (acting upon) of one’s individual and economic freedom, and of one’s exercising (acting upon) individual rights, including property rights – especially property rights.

REGARDING THE ANARCHIC CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

As I understand, the Anarchic Concept of Freedom, fundamentally centers around the practice of, mistakenly or deliberately, distorting and viewing the actions taken by an individual, or a business, that are not in themselves the use of force against others, and twisting and distorting such actions as the “initiation of physical force” and violations against the freedom and rights of other individuals – and then using, specifically, the threat of government force – as well as private force sanctioned by the government - to stop and/or deny individuals, and businesses, from truly and legitimately exercising (acting upon) their own inalienable individual freedom, economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms.

EXAMPLES -

(1) Your freedom of speech is not violated (Rational Concept of Freedom) when another individual or business or private school will not allow you to speak on their stage or on their radio station. Even in the face of others exercising their property rights by making such decisions thus creating “obstacles” for you (Dr. Reisman – see below), you still have the freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech elsewhere, and you have not been stopped or controlled in that pursuit, and no force has been used against you. However, your freedom of speech is violated (Anarchic Concept of Freedom) when the government, or a group sanctioned by the government, stops and controls you with the threat of physical force (direct violence, or through legislation, mandates, fines, etc.) from speaking on your own stage or radio station, or on a stage or radio station where you have been invited or are given consent to speak – your freedom of speech has been stopped and, therefore, has been violated by government force, or by private force sanctioned by the government, and your freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech has been stopped and controlled.

(2) The “Fairness Doctrine” is a perfect example of applying the Anarchic Concept of Freedom in creating and establishing government legislation allowing the use of coercive government force to violate and infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of individuals and businesses. This would mean using coercive government legislation, regulation, mandates, and coercive force to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, and control the property rights of broadcast companies, radio stations, and internet sites to control, even destroy, Conservative Talk Radio throughout the United States of America. The “Fairness Doctrine” (a true Statist policy) would force opposing views onto the private property of others where it may not be wanted, and even destroy the market of many radio stations with such political power and force (which is, I think, the real goal of this policy’s supporters). If re-enacted, the “Fairness Doctrine” would be anything but “fair,” and a horrible violation against property rights, and frightening abuse of political power and control, and truly destroy Freedom of Speech for all.

SIDE NOTE: In my opinion, the “Fairness Doctrine” is an example of using coercive government force (Statism) of shutting down opposition to statist (socialist and environmentalist) ideas, agenda, and policies -- where “fairness” is measured NOT in terms of recognizing and protecting property rights and the freedom of speech of all private individuals and businesses, but where “fairness” is measured instead in terms of VIOLATING and INFRINGING UPON the property rights and the true freedom of speech of “certain” other individuals and businesses -- all because those people in political power and control do not like the freedom of speech of others who do not support or agree with them. The “Fairness Doctrine” is one step towards censoring capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented opposition to Statism, and all that it stands for.

The following is my expanded interpretation, discussion, and commentary regarding the Rational Concept of Freedom versus the Anarchic Concept of Freedom. My discussion regarding the Rational Concept of Freedom comes first, followed by the Anarchic Concept of Freedom.

MY EXPANDED INTERPRETATION, DISCUSSION, and COMMENTARY REGARDING the RATIONAL CONCEPT of FREEDOM

REGARDING THE RATIONAL CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

To Repeat: As I understand, the Rational Concept of Freedom fundamentally centers around the absence of the initiation of physical force, specifically by the government, against an individual’s actions (and I would also add as an extension of the individual, a business’ actions) that are not in themselves the use of force against others; meaning actions that do not constitute a true violation or infringement – of any kind - against individual or economic freedom, against individual rights, or against property rights, including actions that do not truly prohibit or deny individual rights, including property rights; meaning actions that are based on the legitimate application and exercising (acting upon) of one’s individual and economic freedom, and of one’s exercising (acting upon) individual rights, including property rights – especially property rights.

The key element here, I think, is: the absence of government force against those actions that are not the use of force against others – meaning, those actions which arise from the application and exercising of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights - in a social context – meaning those actions that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others. And, in my opinion, only such a situation can exist in a society of Capitalism.

To put it another way (my own interpretation) in a true laissez-faire capitalist society, the actions (and decisions) made by an individual applying and exercising his/her individual freedom, individual rights, including their property rights in the pursuit of their own self-interests – and that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others - are not a use of force against others, nor are such actions a violation of others’ individual freedom, individual rights, or property rights. In a proper capitalist society, the Rational Concept of Freedom means that the government cannot use force, nor can the government sanction private force, against those actions by other individuals and businesses that arise from the legitimate application and exercising of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights - precisely because such actions DO NOT “represent the use of force” (Dr. Reisman) against others, and do not violate the freedom of others.

In regards to those actions that do not “represent the use of force” (Dr. Reisman) against others, I refer to such actions as those actions that arise from the legitimate application and exercise of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights, by free individuals and businesses – actions that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights of others.

I call such actions “non-use-of-force” actions. Such “non-use-of-force” actions would certainly include those actions that an individual takes to secure and protect his/her own life and property (exercise of property rights) against others who would not respect, and who would violate, his/her property rights. This would certainly include actions such as using the police to remove individuals off one’s property who have entered uninvited, who are causing problems or damage, or who will not leave when asked to. In doing so, the police are protecting property rights, and such action is not violating the rights of the true violators (those who will not leave when asked or who are damaging property). There is no such “right” or any justification to infringe upon or violate the individual rights, including the property rights, of other free innocent people and businesses who are simply exercising their own rights. Also, though such “non-use-of-force” actions may create “obstacles” (Dr. Reisman – see below) for other people in exercising their own individual rights and derivative freedoms, such actions have not stopped or controlled the individual’s freedom to pursue their own rights and freedoms.

Such “non-use-of-force” actions – that is, actions that arise from the application and exercising of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, and that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others - are not the violation of individual freedom, and therefore, are not the violation of individual rights or property rights of others. And such “non-use-of-force” actions are certainly not a use of force (not the initiation of physical force) against you, your individual freedom, your individual rights, your property rights, or your derivative freedoms. For example, asking you to leave my property is not a use of force against you, it is simply me exercising and acting upon my property rights. Or, informing you that you cannot express your political views on my property, in my home, or in my business is not a use of force against you, nor is it violating your freedom of speech, it is simply me exercising my inalienable property rights, and asking you to respect my property rights, including what I allow or don’t allow to be done to my property or on my property.

To repeat: exercising and acting upon one’s own individual rights and property rights (“non-use-of-force” actions) is not a use of force against other individuals, nor is it violating or infringing upon the individual or economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of others. You, as a free individual, are still free to go elsewhere to pursue, exercise, act upon, and practice your individual rights and derivative freedoms, either on your own property, or on property where the owners welcome you and have given you their consent to use their property to practice your freedoms and rights.

Also, in a society of true Capitalism, you would not be allowed – nor would you have any claim, justification, or “right” - to use government force to stop or prevent an individual, or a business, from engaging in their “non-use-of-force” actions, that is, stopping or preventing others from “acting” upon and legitimately exercising their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights, and derivative freedoms, as longs as such actions do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights of others.

EXAMPLES of the RATIONAL CONCEPT of FREEDOM versus the ANARCHIC CONCEPT of FREEDOM

(1) Your freedom of speech is not violated (Rational Concept of Freedom) when another individual or business or private school will not allow you to speak on their stage or on their radio station. Even in the face of others exercising their property rights by making such decisions (“non-use-of-force” actions) thus creating “obstacles” for you (Dr. Reisman – see below), you still have the freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech elsewhere, and you have not been stopped or controlled in that pursuit, and no force has been used against you. However, your freedom of speech is violated (Anarchic Concept of Freedom) when the government, or a group sanctioned by the government, stops and controls you with the threat of physical force (direct violence, or through legislation, mandates, fines, etc.) from speaking on your own stage or radio station, or on a stage or radio station where you have been invited or are given consent to speak – your freedom of speech has been stopped and, therefore, has been violated by government force, or by private force sanctioned by the government, and your freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech has been stopped and controlled.

(2) Your freedom of religion is not violated (Rational Concept of Freedom) when another individual or business or private school does not want you to physically practice your religion on their property or in their business. Even in the face of others exercising their property rights by making such decisions (“non-use-of-force” actions) thus creating “obstacles” for you (Dr. Reisman – see below), you still have the freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of religion elsewhere, and you have not been stopped or controlled in that pursuit, and no force has been used against you. However, your freedom of religion is violated (Anarchic Concept of Freedom) when the government, or a group sanctioned by the government, stops and controls you with the threat of physical force (direct violence, or through legislation, mandates, fines, etc.) from practicing your religion on your own property, in the church of your religion, or on another property where you are given consent to practice your religion - your freedom of religion has been stopped and, therefore, has been violated by government force, or by private force sanctioned by the government, and your freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of religion has been stopped and controlled.

See Dr. George Reisman’s pamphlet essay Freedom, pp. 8-13, for more examples.

NOTE: The word “truly” – that I use in this context – refers to understanding and applying the Rational Concept of Freedom towards distinguishing between what is a true use of force against others, and that which is not a use of force against others - and understanding the difference between that which truly does violate individual freedom and rights, and that which does not violate individual freedom and rights. Using government force to stop and prevent individuals from legitimately exercising and acting upon their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights, is a true use of force against them, and is violating and infringing upon their freedoms and rights; individuals freely and legitimately exercising and acting upon their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, is not a use of force against others (again, what I call “non-use-of-force” actions). Also, I use the term “legitimately” to refer to those actions that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights of others.

Under Capitalism, another person’s individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights – and their ability to pursue, exercise, act upon, and practice them - are as sovereign, immutable, and inalienable as your own individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights - including your ability to pursue, exercise, act upon, and practice them. For a further discussion regarding rights, see Item No. 4 below.

Further, if you (1) privately initiate physical force against, or (2) support the initiation of physical force by the government against, or (3) support the initiation of private force sanctioned by the government against other individuals and/or businesses to stop and prevent them from legitimately acting upon and exercising their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights, then you would be the one who is truly violating and infringing upon the freedoms and rights of others – and you would be the true violator and criminal, along with the government.

DISCUSSING DR. GEORGE REISMAN'S "OBSTACLES"

Dr. George Reisman points out, in his essay Freedom (see reference above), there are two types of obstacles “to the achievement of a goal or desire.”
(1) One type of obstacle is that which comes from the natural state of things, from reality (such as a tornado, a river, a security fence, or gravity, or a physical handicap), also including such things as the “voluntary choices” (Dr. Reisman) that other people make that arise from them exercising their individual rights and property rights, i.e. those “non-use-of-force” actions (as in ‘please remove yourself from my property’ or ‘this is my company and I only hire smokers’ or ‘an aunt that buys a Lexis car instead of paying for the education you want’). While such obstacles may be an inconvenience to you or me, temporarily or permanently, from achieving a goal or desire you or I want, they do not violate or infringe upon your or my individual or economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivate freedoms - precisely because such obstacles are not a use of force against you or me – they do not truly stop or control you or me, as individuals, from exercising and acting upon our individual freedoms and rights, and you or I am still free to pursue, exercise, act upon, and practice our individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms.
(2) The other type of obstacle that Dr. George Reisman refers to are those obstacles that arise from a government threatening “to use physical force” (Dr. Reisman) against the rights and freedoms of individuals and businesses. I refer to this type obstacle as true violations and infringements of rights, because such obstacles are true uses of force against free individuals and businesses, and actually interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, violate, control, stop, and prevent an individual from acting upon and exercising their individual and/or economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms. For example: [1] the government threatening to use physical force against a radio station by imposing fines, business closure, or jail time, if they do not allow “all” political views be broadcasted on their airwaves through implementing and enforcing such legislation as the “Fairness Doctrine” (an application of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom), or [2] a government’s threat to use physical force to imprison and/or confiscate private property if the land owner does not pay his taxes, or if a land owner destroys any government declared “wetlands” or “endangered species” on his private property.

Under true Capitalism, and the application of the Rational Concept of Freedom, you would not be “free” to exercise your “pursuits of happiness” and derivative freedoms (such as your freedom of speech or your freedom of religion), as an individual or as a group, at the expense, infringement upon, and violation of others’ individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivative freedoms by using private and/or government force to do so. For example: you, or a group you belong to, would not be able to exercise your freedom of speech or your freedom of religion on others’ property without their consent and approval – and giving or not giving that consent or approval is their true, proper right. Not allowing you on their property or to use their property is not using force against you; it is the rational application of freedom in exercising their own inalienable individual rights, including their property rights.

This may cause you an inconvenience by imposing an obstacle in the “achievement” of your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires (the first type of obstacle as described by Dr. Reisman), but that is all it is: an inconvenience. Other individuals and/or businesses not allowing you to use their property is not a violation of or infringement upon your individual and economic freedom, your individual rights, your property rights, or your derivative freedoms – it is only an inconvenience caused by such an obstacle, and no matter how much it might disappoint you, or your might resent it, it is still NOT a use of force against you. And you have no excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or any “right” to use the threat of physical force by the government, or privately, against such a “non-use-of-force” (action) obstacle.

Again, to repeat, any such inconvenience caused by an obstacle that arises out of the application and exercise of others’ individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights (meaning the “non-use-of-force” actions by others), does not give one an excuse, a claim, any rationale, any justification, nor any “right” to use the threat of government force to stop and/or prevent others from acting upon or exercising such individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights – as long as such action does not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others. Nor does any such inconvenience caused by such an obstacle justify or legitimize using government force to control, occupy, use, and/or seize the property of other individuals (including their body, their mind, their incomes, and wealth) and/or businesses (including their income, wealth, and/or profits) to (1) achieve your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, or desires, or (2) to force your educational, political, environmental, conservationist, and/or social-engineering plans and agenda onto others, or (3) to simply exercise and act upon your own individual rights and derivative freedoms.

There is no such right as a “right” to violate and infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, the individual rights, including the property rights, of other individuals and businesses, or to control and enslave other individuals or businesses for your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires – even when “non-use-of-force” actions by other individuals and businesses might cause you an inconvenience by imposing an obstacle in the way of you trying to achieve your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires.

Again, to initiate the use private force or government force (either by regulation, mandate, law, or actual military or police force) to against others to stop and prevent them from acting upon or exercising their individual and economic freedom, their individual rights, including their property rights, or to occupy, use, and/or seize another individual’s or business’ property (including their income, wealth, and/or profits) by government force, is the true violation and infringement of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights, and the true act of force against others.

Only in applying the Rational Concept of Freedom (as presented by Dr. Reisman) can such horrors and injustices of coercive private and/or government force, and the infringement and violation against innocent individuals and businesses, who are legitimately exercising, acting upon, and pursuing their own freedoms and rights, be prevented.

FURTHER NOTES

Under the Rational Concept of Freedom, for example, your freedom of speech (a derivative freedom derived from your fundamental rights to life and liberty – see Item No. 5 below) allows you the freedom to exercise and express your views and ideas on your own property, or on a property where you have the permission and/or the consent by the property owner to do so, without being interfered with, limited, prohibited, dictated, regulated, mandated, controlled, or stopped by the government, but your freedom of speech does not guarantee or give you the unlimited freedom to exercise or express your views and ideas wherever or whenever you wish, or on the property of others, nor does it guarantee you a “platform” (such as a publishing business, a stage, a lecture hall, or a radio or TV station - or any government subsidized radio or TV platform, such as PBS) on which to exercise and practice your freedom of speech. Nor does it allow you to use coercive government force (through taxation, fees, forced use of property, or seizure and confiscation of property) to provide you with such a platform (such as establishing PBS or using the “Fairness Doctrine”) by violating another individual’s, or business’, property rights, including stealing their income, wealth, and/or profit, just so you may practice your “freedom of speech” by expressing your views and ideas wherever and whenever you wish or desire.

Nor does the freedom of speech mean that others must listen to or read what you want to express, nor does it give you the “right” to disrupt lectures and speeches on private property (including business and private schools). Nor does the freedom of speech give you the “right” to force private radio stations to provide you with air time so you can express your views. It is not a violation or infringement of your freedom of speech – and it is NOT a use of force against you - if another private individual, business (such as a radio station), or private school does not want to provide you with a lecture hall, microphone, or airwaves, or will not allow you to occupy or use their property (the studios, stages or airwaves they may own) so you can express your views and ideas. It is simply these individuals and businesses exercising their property rights. Again, such actions and decisions by free acting individuals and businesses, based on the application of the Rational Concept of Freedom, are “non-use-of-force” actions.

While not being able to use the property of others may be an inconvenience by imposing an obstacle to the “achievement” of your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires, you still have your freedom to pursue, exercise, and act upon your individual rights and derivative freedoms on your own property, or to make voluntary, peaceful arrangements with other individuals who have property that will give you their consent to use it. But you have NO “right” to use private or government force against other innocent individuals and businesses, and against their consent, to force them to let you use their property and/or their income and wealth so you may pursue your own rights and derivative freedoms. If you think you do, then you are the true violator and the true criminal and aid in the destruction of the Rational Concept of Freedom.

The exercise (actions) of property rights by others is not a violation of or infringement upon your derivative freedom of speech, and it is not a use of force against you; your derivative freedom of speech does not trump or override the fundamental, inalienable individual rights and property rights of other individuals, including businesses.

Under Capitalism, you are always free to pursue and start your own business, such as a radio station, so you may broadcast what you wish to say – or start your own newspaper to publish what you want – or to try to convenience a business or property owner through peaceful, voluntary cooperation to support your views and ideas. However, in applying the Rational Concept of Freedom, your individual and economic freedom does not guarantee you a success from your freedom to pursue your personal goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires. Under Capitalism, if you cannot find a market for your ideas, or you do not have your own property to act on, or find anyone who will voluntarily allow you to use their property, so you may exercise and act upon your freedom of speech, you would then NOT be able to, or allowed to turn to, the government and demand that it (the government) use the threat of physical force to steal and confiscate the property, money, income, and wealth from other private individuals and businesses – in the form of taxes, fees, forced use of, or direct confiscation – to provide you with a platform (either in forcing them to allow you to use their property, or providing such public broadcasting as NPR or PBS) so you can then practice your freedom of speech, in broadcasting or publishing your ideas.

To repeat, your derivative freedom of speech, or any other derivative freedom or right, does not trump or override the fundamental, inalienable individual rights and property rights of other individuals, including those of businesses.

You have no “right” to violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of other individuals or businesses, or to control and enslave other individuals or businesses, simply because you have been inconvenienced with some obstacle - all so you may exercise or practice any of your own individual rights and freedoms. There is no such right as the right to enslave others for your benefit.

A reminder: The pursuit to achieve any of your personal, business, social, or political goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires does not give you any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force and/or intimidation and/or control to stop, violate, or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivative freedoms of other individuals and/or businesses. AND it does not give you any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to enslave and steal from other individuals and businesses - through taxation or confiscation of savings, income, wealth, profit, or property - for the achievement of any of your personal, business, social, or political goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires. This includes such things as retirement for your old age, medical and health care for your life, education for your children or yourself, a shelter for you to live in, a job to work at, transportation, or food, or clothes, or anything else in your life.

Your only expectation from applying the Rational Concept of Freedom is that you will be left FREE to pursue your own individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms while at the same time truly recognizing and respecting – and to never prevent, stop, infringe upon, or violate - the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all other individuals and businesses, and to expect a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect your freedoms and rights, and the freedoms and rights of all other individuals and businesses. That is all.

The concept of freedom MUST be applied rationally to the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all individuals and businesses in order to establish and preserve a true society of Capitalism and Freedom.

Using government force to take money, income, wealth, profit, and/or property from others – whether individuals or businesses, rich or poor - in the form of taxes, fees, or confiscation, so that anyone can exercise any of their derivative freedoms and rights, is a direct infringement upon and a violation of the individual rights and property rights of those individuals and/or businesses – and it is also a very immoral thing to do, and therefore, it is an evil thing to do. Why? Because the money, the income, the wealth, the profits, and the property that legitimately and rightfully belong to other individuals and businesses is precisely just that – it is their property, it is theirs by their right of properly acquiring it, and it belongs to them – others property DOES NOT belong to you, to me, or to anyone else who has no legitimate and/or legal claim to it. It is immoral because it is using coercive government force to steal from others (tax and confiscate), control others (deprive others of their freedoms and rights), and enslave others (forcing others to live for and to pay for your needs, wants, goals, and desires) to allow only certain selected “others” to misuse their derivative freedoms, and it is evil because such action is irrational, anarchic, and anti-life. See Item No. 6 below.

Your derivative freedoms – such as your freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, or freedom from religion - DO NOT include the use of force against other free individuals and businesses so you can exercise or practice them. Your rights DO NOT give you the “right” in engage in any form of criminal activity – not as a private citizen or through using government force - against other individuals or businesses.

Under true Capitalism, your freedom of speech, for example, allows you to pursue your own “platform” in which to express your views and ideas, either through peaceful voluntary exchange with other individuals and businesses (through private charity, or by trading for or purchasing that use, leasing property, etc.), or by legitimately establishing your own “platform” or business in order to do so (through owning your own property and/or starting your own business), without being prevented or stopped by government force, regulation, or control, or stopped by the criminal actions by other individuals or businesses. If a radio station or private school does not agree with your views and ideas, and does not want you to speak on their airwaves, or in their lecture halls, or allow you to disrupt lectures and speeches in their lecture halls, this is their right to do so - all guaranteed under the rational concept and application of freedom – which, in this case, means the rational application of inalienable property rights – the same property rights that apply to you.

Under the Rational Concept of Freedom, other individuals’ or businesses’ decline in allowing you to use their property is an action that is NOT a use of force against you, nor is it a violation or infringement upon any of your derivative freedoms; it is simply their right to use their property the way they deem best for their private self-interests; it is simply the action taken in exercising property rights – it is a “non-use-of-force” action. You have no excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force, or the threat thereof, or be sanctioned by the government, to stop or prevent other individuals and businesses from exercising their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights, and derivative freedoms, and/or stop what they choose to do with their life, their business, and their property – as long as they are not truly violating or infringing upon the freedoms and rights of other individuals and businesses.

NOTE: The principle of the Rational Concept of Freedom applies to and affects all individual rights and derivative freedoms.

MY EXPANDED INTERPRETATION, DISCUSSION, and COMMENTARY REGARDING the ANARCHIC CONCEPT of FREEDOM

REGARDING THE ANARCHIC CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

To Repeat: As I understand, the Anarchic Concept of Freedom, fundamentally centers around the practice of, mistakenly or deliberately, distorting and viewing the actions taken by an individual, or a business, that are not in themselves the use of force against others, and twisting and distorting such actions as the “initiation of physical force” and violations against the freedom and rights of other individuals – and then using, specifically, the threat of government force – as well as private force sanctioned by the government - to stop and/or deny individuals, and businesses, from truly and legitimately exercising (acting upon) their own inalienable individual freedom, economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms.

Actions that do not represent the use of force against others refers to, I think, those actions that are based on the true and legitimate application and exercising of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights, and are actions that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights of others - actions which I call “non-use-of-force” actions. Such “non-use-of-force” actions would certainly include those proper, legitimate actions that an individual takes to secure and protect his/her own life and property (exercise of property rights) against others who would not respect property rights, and who would truly violate his/her property rights.

The Anarchic Concept of Freedom also implies that the government could even sanction the private initiation of physical force against other individuals and businesses (including schools) by simply doing nothing to stop this private use of force. Example: renegade trouble makers in an audience disrupting a classroom, lecture, or speech at a school, preventing the class or speech to continue, and the police (which the government directs) doing nothing to stop the disruption or not removing the renegade trouble makers. Stopping the renegade trouble makers is NOT violating their “freedom of speech,” it is protecting the property rights of the school and its owners, and protecting the freedom of speech of the speaker. Allowing the renegade trouble makers to continue is NOT protecting their “freedom of speech,” it is violating the property rights of the school and its owners, and violating the freedom of speech of the speaker, who either owns the school, works for the school, or has permission to speak at the school.

I think that statist-oriented politicians and government officials, at all levels of government, have a vested interest in allowing and using “government sanctioned force by private individuals” (Dr. Reisman), because it lets their private-sector supporters defend statist government agenda, where the statist government private-sector supporters do the dirty work of attacking, directly, the rational opposition to the true violations and infringements of individual rights and property rights - while at the same time, allowing the same statist-oriented politicians and government officials to interfere with, and manipulate, the military, police, law enforcement, and justice system to prevent and stop these legitimate government institutions from doing their proper government functions and jobs of actually recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of innocent individuals, businesses, and schools that are truly being violated and attacked.

For example: if an invited speaker at a school lecture hall is being interrupted and harassed by a group of trouble makers in the audience, and the school is not allowed, through government directive, regulation, or mandate, to remove these trouble makers by using the police to do so, then the school’s property rights are being violated, and the speaker’s freedom of speech is also being violated. This is the application of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom. Again, your derivative freedom of speech does not trump or override the individual rights and property rights of others – and does not allow you to violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of other individuals and businesses.

Besides, in my opinion, such behavior as harassment, heckling intimidating, and purposely interrupting speakers is NOT an example of the freedom of speech. It is only an example of despicable, irrational behavior, a deliberate use of force against others, and is the actions of hoodlums and thugs – not of free individuals who truly understand freedom and its proper application.

Applying and engaging in the Anarchic Concept of Freedom means to use direct government force or government sanctioned force to stop and prevent the “non-use-of-force” actions by other individuals and businesses, meaning stopping and preventing the actions that arise from acting upon and exercising individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms by other individuals and businesses, meaning those actions that do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others. I think that most people fall into the trap of supporting the Anarchic Concept of Freedom because such “non-use-of-force” actions are either wrongly interpreted, or deliberately distorted to be viewed, as force against others and, therefore, seen as an infringement or a violation of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights – which they are clearly not.

The key element here, I think, is the misinterpretation and/or distortion of the proper concept of freedom to mean otherwise. The Anarchic Concept of Freedom represents the mistaken or deliberate interpretation and distortion (or irrational belief) of the idea that the legitimate and proper application and exercising of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, by “certain” other people or businesses (meaning those actions by individuals or businesses that are not the use of force against others) are actually viewed as the “use of force” against other people, and therefore - mistakenly or deliberately – viewed, and “construed” (Dr. Reisman), as using physical force against others, and therefore, of infringing upon and violating the individual rights and derivative freedoms of the certain “other” selected people – even of certain “other” selected businesses - who are seen as the “victims” of such “non-use-of-force” actions by others.

But again, “non-use-of-force” actions are neither force nor violation against others. They are simply those actions taken by an individual or a business in legitimately exercising (acting upon) their own individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including their property rights, and derivative freedoms.

Simply not being able to achieve what one wishes, wants, or desires, because another individual and/or business is acting upon and exercising their own individual freedom and rights, including their property rights, for their own self-interests, is not a violation or infringement upon the freedom, individual rights, or derivative freedoms of other individuals, and it is certainly not a use of force against them either. And no one has any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force, or use private force sanctioned by government, against any other innocent individual or business in stopping, limiting, prohibiting, dictating, regulating, mandating, violating, or controlling the exercising and acting upon of their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivative freedoms, and any commerce or business activities – as long as they are not truly violating or infringing upon the individual rights and property rights of others.

But this is precisely what the Anarchic Concept of Freedom allows: using government physical force, or private force sanctioned by government, against individuals and businesses, and stopping, preventing, and denying them from truly and legitimately exercising, applying, and acting upon their own individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, including any and all commerce or business activities.

EXAMPLES of the RATIONAL CONCEPT of FREEDOM versus the ANARCHIC CONCEPT of FREEDOM

(1) Your freedom of speech is not violated (Rational Concept of Freedom) when another individual or business or private school will not allow you to speak on their stage or on their radio station. Even in the face of others exercising their property rights by making such decisions (“non-use-of-force” actions), you still have the freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech elsewhere, and you have not been stopped in that pursuit, and no force has been used against you. However, your freedom of speech is violated (Anarchic Concept of Freedom) when the government, or a group sanctioned by the government, stops you with the threat of physical force from speaking on your own stage or radio station, or on a stage or radio station where you have been invited to speak – your freedom of speech has been stopped and, therefore, violated by government force, or by private force sanctioned by the government, and your freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of speech has been stopped and controlled.

(2) Your freedom of religion is not violated (Rational Concept of Freedom) when another individual or business or private school does not want you to physically practice your religion on their property or in their business. Even in the face of others exercising their property rights by making such decisions (“non-use-of-force” actions), you still have the freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of religion elsewhere, and you have not been stopped in that pursuit, and no force has been used against you. However, your freedom of religion is violated (Anarchic Concept of Freedom) when the government, or a group sanctioned by the government, stops you with the threat of physical force from practicing your religion on your own property, in the church of your religion, or on another property where you are given consent to practice your religion - your freedom of religion has been stopped and, therefore, violated by government force, or by private force sanctioned by the government, and your freedom to pursue practicing your freedom of religion has been stopped and controlled.

See Dr. George Reisman’s pamphlet essay Freedom, pp. 8-13, for more examples.

Further, I suggest, when the Anarchic Concept of Freedom is believed to be legitimate and then legislated into law allowing it to be practiced, it then becomes common practice to “rationalize” the use of state or government force to stop and prevent “select” other individuals and businesses from exercising (acting upon) their own freedoms, individual rights, and property rights (which means preventing them, by using government force, from acting in their own personal self-interests, including using their property and any economic activity). This means violating and infringing upon the freedom and rights, including property rights, of any and/or all individuals and businesses just so “certain select other” people and/or businesses can achieve what they want, get what they want, or do what they want – for whatever reason – by using government force to do so, or by being sanctioned by the government to use their own private physical force, and intimidation, to do so.

The “FAIRNESS DOCTRINE” as an APPLICATION of the ANARCHIC CONCEPT of FREEDOM

The “Fairness Doctrine” is a perfect example of applying the Anarchic Concept of Freedom in creating and establishing government legislation allowing the use of coercive government force to violate and infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of individuals and businesses. This would mean using coercive government legislation, regulation, mandates, and coercive force to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, and control the property rights and freedom of speech (meaning the content) of broadcast companies, radio stations, and internet sites to control, even destroy, Conservative Talk Radio throughout the United States of America. The “Fairness Doctrine” (a true Statist policy) would force opposing views onto the private property of others where it may not be wanted, and even destroy the market of many radio stations with such coercive political power and force (which is, I think, the real goal of this policy’s supporters). If re-enacted, the “Fairness Doctrine” would be anything but “fair,” and a horrible violation against property rights, and frightening abuse of political power and control, and truly destroy Freedom of Speech for all.

In my opinion, the “Fairness Doctrine” is an example of using coercive government force (Statism) of shutting down opposition to statist (socialist and environmentalist) ideas, agenda, and policies -- where “fairness” is measured NOT in terms of recognizing and protecting property rights and the freedom of speech of all private individuals and businesses, but where “fairness” is measured instead in terms of VIOLATING and INFRINGING UPON the property rights and the true freedom of speech of “certain” other individuals and businesses -- all because those people in political power and control do not like the freedom of speech of others who do not support or agree with them. The “Fairness Doctrine” is one step towards censoring capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented opposition to Statism, and all that it stands for.

The “Fairness Doctrine” would be a vile abuse of political power and control, and as I said before, a horrible violation and infringement of individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms. I think that in a proper, rational, freedom-oriented capitalist society, such a ludicrous idea as the “Fairness Doctrine” would not even be considered a rational, legitimate concept, let alone worthy of any debate or discussion, and definitely would not be allowed to be legislated into law: a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government of a true laissez-faire capitalist society would not allow such a farce. No one – not you as a private individual, or business, or group, or mob, or some mislead politician, government official, or government committee or legislature - has any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force, or the threat thereof, or be sanctioned by the government in using private force, against individuals and businesses to stop them from exercising and applying their individual rights, including their property rights, their economic freedoms, and/or what they choose to do with their life, their property, or their business – as long as they are not truly violating or infringing upon the individual rights and property rights of others. As mentioned above, such actions arising from exercising and acting upon individual rights and property rights are “non-use-of-force” actions against no one.

In applying the Rational Concept of Freedom, every single individual, every single business, every single school, every single publishing company, every single broadcast company, every single television station, every single cable network, every single radio station, and every single internet site has absolute, sovereign, immutable, inalienable property rights never to be violated or infringed upon for any reason by the government, nor by any private individual or group - and has the right to broadcast or publish anything they wish or please, and has a right to find a market that will pay for their broadcasting content – as long as they are not truly violating or infringing upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights of others, by engaging in some sort of true coercive force, fraud, liable, or slander.

Because of the rational application of property rights, free individuals and businesses have every right not to allow anyone else to use their property, or airwaves, if they so choose. That is their right, as it would apply to your own property rights. (And, yes, under Capitalism, even airwaves are privately owned.) For example, if radio stations across a country prefer to broadcast Conservative Talk Radio because there is a consumer demand and market for it, they have every basic, absolute, inalienable right to do so. THAT IS THEIR RIGHT! And no one – NO ONE – not private individuals, nor any businesses, nor any politicians or government official, or any special interest groups, or any union, or any other group, has any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force and/or intimidation against such ratio stations to stop or prevent them from doing so – to stop or prevent them from exercising their inalienable property rights, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, or any other derivative freedom. Just because you may disagree with or not like the content, ideas, or message presented by Conservative Talk Radio, that does not give you, or your favorite politician, union, or special interest group, any “claim” or “right” or justification, whatsoever, for any reason, to use coercive government force, intimidation, or manipulation to control them, violate them, stop them, or destroy them.

It is only in applying the Anarchic Concept of Freedom that such a horrid, debased idea as the “Fairness Doctrine” would even exist, and therefore, even be considered as a legitimate legislative idea, and then “legislatively” implemented. The “Fairness Doctrine” legislation is clearly anarchic, irrational, and a direct violation of and infringement upon the property rights, and the freedom of speech, of other individuals. It is clearly a statist’s “dream” legislation, and an advancement of the statist elements, agenda, and policies of our current American government if made law.

Finally, it is my opinion that an Anarchic Concept of Freedom can ultimately destroy a free, capitalist society, if it is accepted, adopted, and practiced as the norm by the majority of people in the society – destroying that society through the way in which they practice and exercise their distorted idea of “freedom.”

FURTHER NOTES

Under the Anarchic Concept of Freedom, for example, your Freedom of Speech is distorted and twisted to mean that if another individual or business (including private schools), does not want to, or will not, provide you with a “platform” (such as a printing press, a stage, or a radio or TV station) to express your views and ideas - or will not allow you to use their property (the stages or airwaves they may own) to express your views and ideas - or prevent you from disrupting a lecture or speech on private property to protest it (be it on personal, business, or school property) - you can then claim (though irrationally) that your freedom of speech is being violated by such actions and decisions (though they are “non-use-of-force” actions), and accuse these individuals, and businesses, of such violation.

Further, by applying the Anarchic Concept of Freedom, you can then proceed to use the initiation of physical force by the government (or the threat to use such force), or use the initiation of private force sanctioned by government, to truly violate the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including the property rights, and derivative freedoms, of any or all other individuals, and businesses, who will not allow you to use their property (be it a stage, a radio station, or airwaves) to express your views and ideas – and physically force them, by using coercive government force or coercive private government-sanctioned force, to either allow you use their property, or provide you with a “platform” so you can practice your “freedom of speech.”

To repeat: the Anarchic Concept of Freedom means using the initiation of physical force against innocent individuals and businesses – who have not used force against anyone by exercising their own property rights - to force them to either allow you to use or occupy their private property without their voluntary consent, and to control, prevent, and even stop these individuals and businesses entirely from being able to exercise (act upon) their own property rights, which means stopping them from using their property the way they want to and deem best for their own interests.

Another manner in which the Anarchic Concept of Freedom is applied is in justifying the confiscation and stealing (through taxation, fees, fines against, or confiscation) of income, wealth, profits, and/or property of all individuals and businesses in a society (or only of a select few if need be) to forcefully provide “public” communication and entertainment platforms, such as NPR, PBS, public art museums and theaters, etc., giving certain “select” individuals a blank check to exercise their freedom of speech or their freedom of the press anywhere and anyway they wish.

A reminder: The pursuit to achieve any of your personal, business, social, or political goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires does not give you any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to use government force and/or intimidation and/or control to stop, violate, or infringe upon the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivative freedoms of other individuals and/or businesses. AND it does not give you any excuse, claim, rationale, justification, or “right” to enslave and steal from other individuals and businesses - through taxation or confiscation of savings, income, wealth, profit, or property - for the achievement of any of your personal, business, social, or political goals, wants, needs, wishes, whims, demands, or desires. As an aside, this includes such things as retirement for your old age, medical and health care for your life, education for your children or yourself, a shelter for you to live in, a job to work at, transportation, or food, or clothes, or anything else in your life – including a radio or TV station for you, an art gallery for you, a park for you, etc., etc., etc.

Your only expectation from applying the Rational Concept of Freedom is that you will be left FREE to pursue your own individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms while at the same time truly recognizing and respecting – and to never prevent, stop, infringe upon, or violate – the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all other individuals and businesses, and to expect a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect your freedoms and rights, and the freedoms and rights of all other individuals and businesses. That is all.

However, the application and use of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom is precisely the way to completely destroy the very concept of freedom that one is trying to achieve – either mistakenly or deliberately. In my opinion, this is why I think many Statists (those who support Statism) focus on applying and using the Anarchic Concept of Freedom to achieve their very social-political goals and desires: the Anarchic Concept of Freedom ends up destroying freedom for all individuals and businesses, and helps in establishing Statism in one form or another.

The bottom line is that the Anarchic Concept of Freedom is an irrational, twisted, distorted, and corrupted use of the proper, objective, Rational Concept of Freedom – upon which America was originally established – and the use of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom is in part responsible in destroying American culture and establishing Statism: by destroying the proper application of the Rational Concept of Freedom. The Anarchic Concept of Freedom is being used, and promoted by many present day United States citizens, businesses, government politicians, officials, and judges to violate, infringe upon, and destroy individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms for all Americans, individuals and businesses.

NOTE: The principle of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom - which is based on the allowance of the initiation of physical force by the government, or the threat thereof, against the “non-use-of-force” actions by individuals or businesses, thereby truly violating and infringing upon their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms – applies to and affects all individual rights and derivative freedoms.

4. Capitalism and Rights vs. Statism and Force

2008-10-12T16:20:00.014-04:00

This represents my thoughts and commentary regarding the topics of Capitalism and Rights versus Statism and Force. This is a very extensive and lengthy discussion on my behalf, but I think such important concepts require consideration as they are part understanding the essential foundations of either Capitalism or Statism. My discussion regarding Capitalism and Rights comes first, followed by my discussion regarding Statism and Force.

CAPITALISM and RIGHTS

A true laissez-faire capitalist system is a social-political system where the sovereign, immutable, inalienable individual rights of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, property rights, and derivative freedoms, of every single individual human being – meaning every individual man and woman, of any race, creed, or color - are recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government.

Capitalism represents, and is the application of, individual freedom in a social context.

As pointed out by Ayn Rand in her book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Capitalism is a social system that recognizes individual rights and property rights, where all property in a society is privately owned (there is NO government or “publicly” owned property under true Capitalism).

See Item No. 1 above for references to Ayn Rand’s definitions of Capitalism and Statism.

Understanding what a “right” means, fundamentally and clearly - especially the fundamental right to your own life – is, in my opinion, one of the most basic and crucial elements in establishing, preserving, defending, and protecting your individual and economic freedom, your individual rights, including your property rights, your derivative freedoms, and the whole social-political system of Capitalism.

-- To truly understand rights, I encourage and recommend reading Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb, pp. 92-100 (Signet, ~1980).

-- Also, a brief introduction to various writings by Ayn Rand regarding rights is available at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line - subject “Individual Rights.”

An introduction to the concept of Rights from my own studies, including my interpretation and commentary.

Ayn Rand describes the concept of a right as a “moral principle” that defines and sanctions “man’s freedom of action in a social context.” See Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb, p. 93 (Signet, ~1980), for complete and exact text. See an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings at -
Capitalism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Individual Rights at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Property Rights at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
A Principle at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Morality at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Freedom at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Society at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/

Man’s (meaning the human being’s) fundamental nature is that of an independent, individuated individual conceptual being – meaning a being with a separate, independent conceptual brain, not a collective brain, but a being of independent volition, reason, and judgment, who’s nature requires that he must “act” freely, as an individual, with his own life and mind to properly relate to existence in order to survive, including also his need to use reason to form concepts to survive, and to be able to apply his capacity to associate with, and form social relationships, with other human beings.

Because of these basic requirements and abilities, man forms principles – meaning primary or fundamental truths upon which “other truths depend” (Ayn Rand) – principles to help man survive as man, meaning to help him use his mind and his life in (1) to properly deal with his own nature as an independent, individuated individual conceptual being, (2) to establish his individual relationship with existence (reality), with life, and with other human beings as individual entities in social interactions, and (3) to help him establish “long-range goals” and to be able to “evaluate the concrete alternatives” at any time in his life (Ayn Rand). Further, as Ayn Rand points out, it is only by forming and using principles that a man (meaning an individual human being, man or woman) can have the ability to make plans for his future and take the necessary objective and moral actions to reach and achieve his plans.

-- See Ayn Rand’s book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 14, “The Anatomy of Compromise,” pb, pp. 144-149 (Signet, ~1980), for complete and exact text.

It is my interpretation and understanding that the concept of a right is formed as a particular type of “fundamental, primary, or general truth” (Ayn Rand), meaning that a right is formed as a particular type of principle, a principle that helps man live his life, plan his life, enjoy his life, and achieve his values. As such, a right is a positive value-seeking, life-supporting, happiness-oriented principle for man - a rational principle, a “moral” principle, a principle that is “right” for man’s proper survival as an independent, individuated individual – that “defines,” directs, guides, and “sanctions” man’s independent, individual “freedom of action” in a rational “moral” way so that he may voluntarily and peacefully be able to exist with, survive with, interact with, associate with, be productive with, prosper with, deal with, and socially live among all other independent, individuated individual human beings as free individual human beings. It is my view that the proper, rational practice, and implementation of the concept of a right is man’s only way of truly achieving a freedom-oriented, individually-and-economically productive, prosperous, peaceful, limited-government, division-of-labor, civilized, industrialized society (the “social context” I think Ayn Rand refers to) – that is, man’s only way of truly achieving a society of Freedom and Capitalism.

Ayn Rand further explains that there is only one fundamental right, and that is the right to your own individual life. Ms. Rand also points out that a “right” essentially means the freedom from the initiation of physical force by other men, especially by government. “Other men,” would include, I think, any other individual(s) or groups such as a tribe, a church or religious group, environmentalist or ecology groups, any business or organization, a monarchy, a king or dictator, some politician or government official (at any level of government, local-state-federal), a special interest group or union, and/or any other group, gang, mob, or the “majority” or the “public good” or “society."

Rights apply ONLY to the independent, individuated individual human being in regards to his/her ability to act freely in social interactions and relationships.

The concept of a right applies ONLY to the individual human being in a “social context.” The concept of a right does not apply to other entities, living (animate) or non-living (inanimate), such as non-conceptual animal species, “endangered species,” insects, trees and other plants, rocks, soil, the earth, the oceans, waterways, waterfalls, etc., etc., etc. – and the concept of a right does not apply to “groups” of men, groups such as society as a whole, the government or government agencies, or to unions, farmers, workers, teachers, students, businessmen, consumers, employees, employers, doctors, patients, parents, children, the unborn, men or women, race oriented, age-oriented, the dead, etc., etc., etc.

To repeat, the concept of a right applies ONLY to the independent, individuated individual human being – meaning every single individual man, woman, and child – directing that individual’s “freedom of action” in regards to social interactions and relationships only among human beings (meaning NOT in regards to so called “social” interactions with other animal species or plants).

Again, as Ayn Rand points out, rights apply only to the individual man, meaning only to the individual human being, whether man, woman, or child - ”There are only the Rights of Man” (Ayn Rand). Rights belong only to every single individual human being, and are “possessed” by all human beings as separate individuals.

-- See Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb, pp. 92-100 (Signet, ~1980), for complete and exact text.

Because rights are fundamentally naturally-based upon man’s nature as a conceptual being, and derived from his capacity to form social relationships with other human beings, rights cannot be decreed, commanded, or endowed by any other single human being, nor by any ghost or god, nor by any divine rule or congressional law, nor by any group, church, religion, a “majority,” “society,” mob, king, dictator, politician, government official, government agency, or by the government itself, nor by any government legislation, law, or mandate. Further, rights cannot be transferred from one man to another man, or from one human being to a group. And, as Ayn Rand points out, no one needs the permission from any other individual, group, or government to exercise and act upon their own individual rights, including their property rights.

The bottom line is this: Rights are fundamental requirements to the individual’s life and proper survival in his/her social interactions with other human beings, and rights are inalienable. Whether you believe that rights are endowed upon you from your creator (as the Founding Fathers stated) or you think that rights are naturally-based upon your nature and social interactions as an individual human being, the fundamental truth still holds: rights (meaning individual rights, including property rights) are fundamental, essential, and applicable only to the independent, individuated individual human being, where rights “define,” direct, guide, and sanction man’s independent, individual “freedom of action” in a rational, “moral” way so that he may voluntarily and peacefully exist in a social manner with all other independent, individuated individual human beings as free individual human beings. Individual rights, including property rights, are essential in establishing and maintaining a prosperous and peaceful society – and as Ayn Rand points out, individual rights are the only way to subordinate “society to moral law.” -- See Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb p. 92 (Signet, ~1980).

It is very important here to emphasize that the ONLY proper purpose and function of government is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect the naturally-based rights of man – meaning the rights of every single independent, individuated individual human being; government exists for no other purpose for function. Government does not permit rights, it does not endow rights, it does not decree rights, and it does not command rights. Government exists only to protect man’s rights – meaning recognizing and protecting the individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms of every, single individual human being. To Repeat, protecting man’s rights is the only proper function of government.

To be included in this discussion, as also pointed out by Ayn Rand, rights do not imply obligations of any manner or type whatsoever on any individual to another person, to any group, or to any government, or to the state. As Ms. Rand explains, the very idea that “rights impose obligations” implies that man’s rights are some sort of permission or “gift from the state” - from the government, the ruling group or gang, Congress, the king or queen, the religious ruler, etc. – and that the individual must pay for his/her rights “by offering something in return” such as turning over his/her life and work to the state. BUT, as Ms. Rand also points out, the notion that “rights impose obligations” is a contradiction. Since the government’s only proper function is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual rights, including property rights - of all individuals, including businesses - the government cannot then “claim” the ownership of any individual’s life or work “in exchange” for such recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of individual rights, including property rights. Rights do not carry with them any types or forms of obligations to anyone or to the government, only that each individual respect the rights of other individuals, as they are to respect their rights. And that the government’s only function is to protect these rights.

-- See Ayn Rand’s book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 21, “The Wreckage of the Consensus,” pb pp. 221-235, specifically p. 227 (Signet, ~1980), for complete and exact text.

Also included in her writings regarding rights, Ayn Rand explains that an individual’s fundamental right to life is the foundation of all other rights, and that property rights are essentially the application of exercising (action upon) your basic rights of life and liberty.

Finally, Ms. Rand points out that without any property rights to exercise, the other basic rights of life and liberty are not possible: individual rights cannot exist nor be practiced without property rights, and property rights cannot exist nor be practiced without your ability to freely act on your rights to life and liberty. -- See Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 12, “Man’s Rights,” pb p. 94 (Signet, ~1980), for complete and exact text.

Again, it is important to emphasize that the concept of a right can apply ONLY to man, the conceptual animal, and can apply ONLY to each independent, individuated individual human being, because man’s fundamental nature requires such a “moral” concept to properly exist, survive, plan, prosper, and live voluntarily and peacefully as a free individual human being interacting with, associating with, and living socially among millions, even billions, of other free individual human beings. I think this is why rights are generally referred to as “individual rights,” and why Ayn Rand refers to a right as a “moral principle” because a right “defines,” directs, guides, and “sanctions” an individual’s “freedom of action” when interacting with, associating with, dealing with, and living socially with other individuals in a peaceful, voluntary, cooperative manner – that is, living under Capitalism.

The concept of a right CANNOT and DOES NOT apply to any other type of entity, living or inanimate, other than to an independent, individuated individual conceptual being, meaning, other than to man. Man’s nature as an independent, individuated individual “living” human being requires not only the free use of his mind and life to survive and progress, but it also requires the proper, objective concept of “rights” when living together socially with other human beings. The idea that the concept of a right can apply to all other things in existence – living or inanimate - besides the individual human being (man), is completely inaccurate, incorrect, and is a fundamental misuse and flaw in applying the concept of a right, as well as a direct way to completely destroy the proper, rational, objective meaning and application of the concept of a right.

There is no better way to destroy the Rights of Man than to apply the concept of rights to all other entities – living or inanimate – such as groups of men, other animals, plants, rocks, earth, gods, ghosts, rivers, etc. – and then form a statist government to enslave human beings and use government force to implement such nonsense onto the human population.

To repeat, rights apply ONLY to each and every single, independent, individuated individual human being. Because of the nature of man (a conceptual being) and his requirements for proper survival (the free use of his mind and his life), living as an independent, individuated individual conceptual being in a “social context,” the concept of a right CANNOT apply to any “group” or “collective” or mob or crowd of people. A “group” or “collective” of people is only a group of independent individual human beings. Rights apply only to each, single individual person of such a “group,” not to the “group” or “collective” as a whole. “Group” or “collective” rights are an incorrect application of the concept of a right, and a terrible misuse of the concept of a right.

Consider: the concept of a right is an independent, individual application – NOT a “group” or “collective” application. This means that there are NO such “group” or “collective” “rights” as:

- race “rights” -or
- gender “rights” -or
- sexual-orientation “rights” -or
- disability “rights” -or
- age-group “rights” -or
- union “rights” -or
- labor “rights” (as in a mass of workers) -or
- illegal-alien “rights” -or
- patients’ or doctors’ “rights” -or
- healthcare “rights” -or
- students’ or teachers’ “rights” -or
- environmentalists’ “rights” -or
- “rights” of the unborn (non-individuated) -or
- human “rights” (meaning humans as a collective group; also implies that other entities besides individual human beings have rights), -or
- any other special-interest group “rights.”

Misusing the concept of a right in such a “collective” context is fundamentally incorrect and can only lead to the total destruction of the concept of a “right.” Speaking in terms of “group” or “collective” rights always implies giving certain government forced “prerogatives” and/or "favors" to a particular “group” at the expense and violation of the true individual rights of other individuals (including the extended application of such individual rights to businesses). There are ONLY the rights of the independent, individuated individual human being. There are ONLY individual rights, including property rights, and of course, derivative freedoms of the independent, individuated individual human being. See Item No. 5 below.

In this same manner, since the concept of a right applies ONLY to man as an independent, individuated individual human being as described above, and DOES NOT apply to any other living or inanimate entity, meaning there are NO such “rights” as:
- animal “rights” –or
- endangered species “rights” -or
- earth or nature “rights” -or
- tree “rights” -or
- plant “rights” –or
- soil “rights” -or
- etc., etc., etc.

There is NO such thing as group or collective “rights.” There is NO such thing as animal, tree, or earth “rights.” There exist ONLY the Rights of Man. There exist ONLY individual rights, meaning that the concept of a right applies ONLY to the independent, individuated individual human being in regards to his/her ability to act freely in social interactions, associations, and relationships.

Rights apply only to the “actions” that a free individual engages in to live and survive freely, independently, productively, voluntarily, cooperatively, and peacefully in his/her social interactions, associations, and relationships with and among other free individuals, including society as a whole – and rights apply only those “things” that an individual has earned and/or acquired properly and legitimately through such pursuit of things, such appropriate “actions” (meaning one has a right to one’s own property) - while not engaging in criminal acts, force, or fraud against others to do so, or not violating another’s rights or property to do so (including using government force to enslave, steal, tax, or confiscate). Rights DO NOT apply to the “things” that an individual simply desires, wants, needs, or demands – meaning, there is NO “right” to the “things” that one simply desires, wants, needs, or demands - NOT at the expense of another individual's rights and freedom.

FOUR EXAMPLES

Example 1.

One has the right to pursue -– meaning taking the “action” of -- finding, producing, earning, properly acquiring, negotiating for, exchanging for, or purchasing the food, shelter, goods, and products for one’s life, and therefore, one also has the right only to the food, shelter, and products (the “things”) which this individual has earned and/or acquired properly and legitimately through such pursuit, such “actions” (meaning one has a right to one’s own property) -- while not engaging in criminal acts, force, or fraud against others to do so, or not violating another’s rights or property to do so (including using government force to enslave, steal, tax, or confiscate). BUT one does not have a “right” to the food, shelter, goods, and products that one just simply desires, wants, needs, or demands – and one does not have a “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to get it. One does not have a “right” to use or demand that the government provide any food, shelter, goods, or products for your life.

Another way to state this:

You do not have a “right” to the food, shelter, goods, and products for your life that you simply want or desire. You only have a right to take the action (the pursuit of happiness) to properly and legitimately earn and acquire such food, shelter, goods, and products for your life, and to keep, protect (against the initiation of physical force), and use such food, shelter, goods, and products as you so wish. You have NO “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to enslave other people to get the food, shelter, goods, and products that you want or desire. You have NO “right” to use or demand that the government provide any food, shelter, goods, or products for yourself, for your children, or for other people. NOT any of this at the expense of another individual’s rights and freedom. The exercising of rights does not obligate other individuals to pay for, to sacrifice themselves for, or to provide you with the “things” that you want or desire. Rights do not impose any obligations upon other individuals to you, to your children, to other people, to businesses, or to the government, for any reason or in any manner -- only that you are to respect the rights of other individuals, as they are to respect your rights. OR-

Example 2.

One has the right to pursue -- meaning taking the “action” of -- finding, producing, earning, properly acquiring, negotiating for, exchanging for, or purchasing any education to one’s self or for one’s children, and therefore, one also has the right only to the results (the “things”) of such education which this individual has earned and/or acquired properly and legitimately through such pursuit, such “actions” (meaning one has a right to one’s own property) -- while not engaging in criminal acts, force, or fraud against others to do so, or not violating another’s rights or property to do so (including using government force to enslave, steal, tax, or confiscate). BUT one does not have a “right” to any education for self or for one’s children, that one just simply desires, wants, needs, or demands – and one does not have a “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to get it. One does not have a “right” to use or demand that the government provide any type of education for you or your children.

Another way to state this:

You do not have a “right” to any education for yourself or for your children that you simply want or desire – and your children have no “right” to any education either. You only have a right to take the action (the pursuit of happiness) to properly and legitimately earn and acquire such education for yourself or for your children, and to keep, protect (against the initiation of physical force), and use such education as you so wish. You have NO “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to enslave other people to get any education for yourself or for your children that you want or desire. You have NO “right” to use or demand that the government provide any education for yourself, for your children, or for other people. NOT any of this at the expense of another individual’s rights and freedom. The exercising of rights does not obligate other individuals to pay for, to sacrifice themselves for, or to provide you with the “things” that you want or desire. Rights do not impose any obligations upon other individuals to you, to your children, to other people, to businesses, or to the government, for any reason or in any manner -- only that you are to respect the rights of other individuals, as they are to respect your rights. OR-

Example 3.

One has the right to pursue – meaning taking the “action” of - finding, producing, earning, properly acquiring, negotiating for, exchanging for, or purchasing medical and health care, and therefore, one also has the right only to the results (the “things”) of such medical and health care which this individual has earned and/or acquired properly and legitimately through such pursuit, such “actions” (meaning one has a right to one’s own property) -- while not engaging in criminal acts, force, or fraud against others to do so, or not violating another’s rights or property to do so (including using government force to enslave, steal, tax, or confiscate). BUT one does not have a “right” to any medical or health care that one just simply desires, wants, needs, or demands – and one does not have a “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to get it. One does not have a “right” to use or demand that the government provide any medical or health care.

Another way to state this:

You do not have a “right” to the medical and health care that you simply want or desire. You only have a right to take the action (the pursuit of happiness) to properly and legitimately earn and acquire such medical and health care, and to keep, protect (against the initiation of physical force), and use such medical and health care as you so wish. You have NO “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to enslave other people to provide the medical and health care that you want or desire. You have NO “right” to use or demand that the government provide any medical and health care for yourself, your children, or for other people. The exercising of rights does not obligate other individuals to pay for, to sacrifice themselves for, or to provide you with the “things” that you want or desire. NOT any of this at the expense of another individual’s rights and freedom. Rights do not impose any obligations upon other individuals to you, to your children, to other people, to businesses, or to the government, for any reason or in any manner -- only that you are to respect the rights of other individuals, as they are to respect your rights. OR-

Example 4.

One has the right to pursue – meaning taking the “action” of - finding, producing, earning, properly acquiring, negotiating for, exchanging for, or establishing a job or a career or a business, and therefore, one also has the right only to the results (the “things”) from such a job or career or business which this individual has earned and/or acquired properly and legitimately through such pursuit, such “actions” (meaning one has a right to one’s own property) -- while not engaging in criminal acts, force, or fraud against others to do so, or not violating another’s rights or property to do so (including using government force to enslave, steal, tax, or confiscate). BUT one does not have a “right” to any job or any career or any business that one just simply desires, wants, needs, or demands – and one does not have a “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to get it. One does not have a “right” to use or demand that the government provide one with any type of a job, a career, or a business.

Another way to state this:

You do not have a “right” a job or a career or a business that you simply want or desire. You only have a right to take the action (the pursuit of happiness) to properly and legitimately earn and acquire such a job or a career or a business, and to keep, protect (against the initiation of physical force), and use such a job or a career or a business. You have NO “right” to use government force, regulation, and taxation to enslave other people to get a job or a career or a business that you want or desire. You have NO “right” to use or demand that the government provide you, your children, or anyone else, with any type of a job or a career or a business. The exercising of rights does not obligate other individuals to pay for, to sacrifice themselves for, or to provide you with the “things” that you want or desire. NOT any of this at the expense of another individual’s rights and freedom. Rights do not impose any obligations upon other individuals to you, to your children, to other people, to businesses, or to the government, for any reason or in any manner -- only that you are to respect the rights of other individuals, as they are to respect your rights.

PLEASE NOTE: The same type of examples would apply to any and all other types of “things” that one simply desires, wants, needs, or demands. Just “plug in” the “thing” you desire, want, need, or demand into the examples above, if you need to.

It is clear that Capitalism represents the social and economic system that provides the freedom to pursue your values, while at the same time recognizing and protecting the rights and freedoms of other individuals and businesses. It is also clear that it is Statism that is the social and (sometimes) the economic system in which values are confiscated and provided for by coercive government force and the enslavement (taxation, regulation, control) of individuals (the citizens) and businesses.

Under Capitalism, the government’s only purpose and function is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms – implemented through the government’s only proper three (3) functions: (1) provide a military defense against invasion, (2) provide police and law enforcement for safety and against domestic criminal acts, and (3) provide a proper, objective justice system (courts) to enforce and apply the proper, objective rule of law. Under Capitalism, it is not the government’s function to provide and pay for all the “things” that the individual, or some group, or “society,” may desire, want, need, or demand.

My interpretation and comments on the subject of Individual Rights, including Property Rights, in relation to commerce and business interests and applications:

The fundamental concepts of rights, including property rights, that apply to single, independent individuals, also extend to, and apply to, the context of private business, corporation, and/or organization activities and applications, in what I call a specific extended form and application of individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms as applied to businesses, corporations, or organizations in regards to their formation, establishment, economic freedom, activities, and applications.

Businesses, corporations, or organizations are formed, and exist, only as a certain “number” of separate, independent individuals, each of whom have independently and voluntarily agreed to associate together with each other as a group, usually contractually and legally, to exercise and act upon their individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms together as individuals in the context as, and the application of, a business, corporation, or organization, and to do so without legitimately and truly infringing upon or violating, in any way or manner whatsoever, the individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and economic freedoms of any and all other individuals, businesses, corporations, or organizations - including not being able to use government favors, interference, manipulation, regulations, mandates, control, or coercive force against all and any other individuals, businesses, corporations, or organizations.

Businesses, corporations, or organizations are also formed, and exist, only as a certain “number” of separate, independent individuals, each of whom have independently and voluntarily agreed to own and hold together as individuals certain applications of property, such as land, buildings, furniture, wealth, profits, products and processes, inventions, copyrights, patents, airwaves, private transportation and utility applications, etc. The property is then owned and held by a particular “number” or “association” of individuals – which one might call a “group” of individuals, but under Capitalism, it is still of individuals. It can then be said that the property rights of a particular business, corporation, or organization fall under the ownership and command of the total individual members of such an association. This application may or may not include the employees of a business or corporation - that depends on whether the employees are also owners or not.

The term “command” of property (meaning using and/or taking action with) by businesses, corporations, or organizations arises from both the fundamental application of the individual’s right to liberty and property rights, in the sense of the individual freedom to use and act upon one’s property as one chooses while not legitimately or truly violating or infringing upon the individual rights and property rights of other individuals and businesses, or causing damage or harm through such action, violation, or infringement to the property of other individuals or businesses (single or in association). The “command” of property (meaning the use of and action upon) through the application of business, corporation, or organization property rights is no different: it is merely the extended application of individual liberty and property rights in the context of a business, corporation, or organization - being applied by a voluntarily agreed upon “association” of individuals, for private economic or social activities and applications.

Conclusion of Capitalism and Rights.

It is Laissez-faire Capitalism and the application of the Rational Concept of Freedom that can only offer and establish a free, proper, objective, and truly moral social-political system where individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and economic freedom can exist and be practiced by all individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations. It is only in true Capitalism (Laissez-faire Capitalism) that a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited, representational government can be formed and established to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect these same individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and economic freedoms for all individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations – and it is only in true Capitalism that all and/or any individuals, businesses, corporations, or organizations, including the same protective constitutionally-limited government, cannot, and are not allowed to, legitimately infringe upon or violate, in any way or manner whatsoever, the individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and economic freedoms of any and all other individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations.

VERSUS -

STATISM and FORCE

A statist system is any type of social-political system where the state (a government or ruling group) controls and regulates the economic structure of a country or other geographic region, and – most importantly - controls the individual’s right to his life, his liberty, his property rights, his pursuits of happiness, and his derivative freedoms, and his commerce and business activities - from partial-to-total control. All from the basic premise of Statism: that the individual’s life belongs to the state.

Statism represents, and is the application of, collective slavery in a social context (institutionalized slavery).
As pointed out by Ayn Rand in her book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Statism is a social system based on the fundamental idea that the individual’s life (including his/her work, productivity, and wealth) belongs to the state (government or ruling group), where the government regulates and controls a country’s economy.

See Item No. 1 above for references to Ayn Rand’s definitions of Capitalism and Statism.

See an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings on -
Statism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Permission (vs. Rights) at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Social Theory of Ethics at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Physical Force at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Tyranny at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Society at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Socialism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/

An introduction to the concept of Force from my own studies, including my interpretation and commentary.

It is important to stress that Statism is based on the fundamental idea that an individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group). Therefore, individual rights, including property rights, and all and any derivative freedoms must be regulated, controlled, and even abolished by the state (government or ruling group) in order to maintain the power of the state over its citizenry.

Once Statism is established, and a man’s life and his work comes to belong to the state, all manner of governmental abuse, intrusion, interference, regulation, control, taxation, physical force and violence, enslavement, economic bankruptcy and chaos, and tyranny will ensue. Eventually, with enough time, and if such a statist system cannot invade and conquer other nations and/or territories through imperialism and war, total societal collapse will occur under statism.

In my opinion, such an end to any statist system cannot be avoided nor prevented, and is inevitable because Statism is based upon, and begins with, the fundamental premise of tyranny over individual and economic freedom.

For examples of this, refer to the final history of the Roman Empire, the original U.S.S.R., even the end of the English Empire. There are many other examples throughout history, but they all represent the ultimate, and final, consequence of applying statist ideologies and systems, all based on the fundamental idea that “man’s life” (the individual’s life) belongs to the state (government or ruling group), and therefore, tyranny must be used to control the individual and the economy.

Regarding the subject of misusing the concept of a right by applying it incorrectly to such concept fallacies as “group” or “collective” or “animal” or “plant” or “nature’s” rights, refer to my discussion above under the Capitalism and Rights discussion (contained in this posting Item No. 4).

It is also my opinion that a discussion of what “rights” might mean under Statism is basically a futile attempt to try to give any credence to Statism as a legitimate social-political system for man and his life – and frankly, a waste of time and a moot point. It is suffice to say that the concept of a right becomes non-existent under any type or form of Statism (as man’s life belongs to the state, and therefore, has no freedom), and trying to unite “rights” with Statism (that is, trying to unite “rights” with force) is a horrible, insane, vile, and evil attempt of trying to rationalize Statism as any type of good social system for man. Except to say that individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights are utterly destroyed under the force, control, chaos, and tyranny of Statism. Period.

I will state that it is my interpretation and opinion that, generally speaking, statist-oriented people are very attracted to, and strongly support and encourage, the use of such inaccurate applications as “group” or “collective” rights. “Group” or “collective” rights are very popular with Statists (socialist, leftist-liberals, communists, Marxists, nationalists, environmentalists, etc.) because it is an additional way of diminishing and destroying the true concept of a right, meaning diminishing and destroying individual rights, including property rights, and economic freedom.

Supporting and encouraging “group” or “collective” rights is also another political strategy by Statists (socialists, etc.) of dividing up the citizenry into social factions that are easier to control, manipulate, and rule over, and which also allows the state (the government or the ruling group, including the statist politicians and government officials) to gain, maintain, and preserve its control, power, and tyranny over the populace and economy.

My personal observation from life and study:

Since the fundamental principle of Statism rests on the idea that the individual’s life belongs to the state, and that statist-socialist oriented politicians, government officials, and “crony-pseudo-businessmen” thrive on and “worship” the state (the government or ruling group), one can logically conclude that the “state” or government becomes the “all-important, fundamental life-essential element” to statist-socialist-oriented people and businesses – that the ideologies of Statism and the government become their “reality” focus (not the reality of existence, the real world) – and because of this, statist-socialist-oriented people tend to separate their statist ideologies from true reality and the factual consequences of their thoughts, decisions, and actions.

Statist-socialist oriented people are not “ideas-tied-to-reality (fact)” oriented people, but are instead “ideas-divorced-from-reality (fact)” oriented people.

Therefore, because of this, other individual human life ends up having little or no value at all, except for the purpose of “using” that human life to perpetuate and preserve the state (government or ruling group) at all costs, including using government force and tyranny in starving to death or murdering millions of people to do so. In the end, it is my opinion that individual human life means nothing to statist-socialist-oriented politicians, government officials, and “crony-pseudo-businessmen” – individual human life is seen as only fodder for the state by such people, and to be used accordingly.

For example, observe the costs in terms of human life – death in the millions – of implementing and preserving Statism (in any and all of its forms), including statist agenda and policies, throughout the history of the world, from the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs to present day North Korea, such as:
- the Roman Caesars and the Roman Empire
- the various religious wars throughout the world
- the reign of Hitler and Nazi Germany
- the reign of Stalin and the U.S.S.R.
- the reign of Lenin and the U.S.S.R.
- the reign of Mao Tse-tung and Communist China
- the reign of Pol Pot in Cambodia
- the reign of Kim Il-sung in North Korea
- the reign of Idi Amin in Uganda
- the reign of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe

AND including such statist agenda and policies as:
- the global government ban on DDT and the death of millions of human being due to the spread of malaria (which at last count amounts to at least the death of up to 50 million people worldwide since the ban).

Comment: In my view, I think that many environmentalists truly support the ban on DDT, and the death that it has produced, because it achieves their goals and their objectives: to rid the world of millions of “cancerous” human beings from the earth, and then to control the remaining human beings that manage to survive. This is also, in my view, why environmentalists and “man-made” global warming fanatics love and encourage statist (socialist) ideologies, agenda, and policies because it gives them political power and control over the human race – political power over individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and economic freedom - and the ability to manipulate and eliminate as many human beings as necessary to achieve their environmental goals and objectives through statist (socialist) agenda and government force and control.

Statism is the social system of masters and slaves, where the state is the master, and the individual is the slave - no matter in what form or for what reason.

See Items Nos. 8, 9, and 10 below.

5. Primary Rights and Derivative Freedoms

2008-10-12T16:19:00.007-04:00

REGARDING PRIMARY INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND DERIVATIVE FREEDOMS.

My Interpretation and Thoughts:

As Ayn Rand has pointed out, the basic right to life is the “source” of all other individual rights, including property rights - to which I will add, is also the “source” to all derivative freedoms (my term).

Primary Individual Rights refer to the fundamental, basic rights of any and all individuals:
- The Right to Life (the source of all other rights)
- The Right to Liberty
- Property Rights
- The Right to the Pursuit of Happiness

I choose to use the expression “Derivative Freedoms” to represent and describe all basic freedoms that are “derived” from the applications of the primary, fundamental rights of life, liberty, property rights, and the pursuit of happiness (as the U.S. Founding Fathers expressed the basic individual rights).

Derivative Freedoms include such basic freedoms and secondary rights of the individual as, but not limited to:
- The Freedom of Religion
- The Freedom from Religion
- The Freedom of Speech
- The Freedom of the Press
- The Right of the People Peacefully to Assembly
- The Right of the People to “Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances”
- The Right of the Individual to Keep and Bear Arms
- The Right to a Speedy and Public Trial
- The Right to a Trial by Jury
- The Right to have the Assistance of Counsel for one’s defense
- The Freedom and Right of the People to engage in Unregulated Commerce and Business.

Since Derivative Freedoms are “derived” from the exercise and application of Individual Rights, including Property Rights, they are not primary and do not trump or override the exercise of the Individual Rights and Property Rights by other individuals. One can only practice his/her derivative freedoms on their own property, or on another’s property or business where they are either given the consent to do so, or they purchase or trade for the use of the property to do so through peaceful, voluntary (non-coercive) cooperation.

For example: An individual’s Freedom of Speech does not trump or override the Property Rights of other individuals or businesses. The Property Rights of an individual, a corporation, and/or any business (which is made up of an individual or a group of individuals) override the Freedom of Speech of other individuals when those individuals are physically on the property of others. If an person or business does not like what you are expressing on their property, or does not want you to express your views or ideas on their property, or will not allow you to disturb meetings or lectures on their property, that is their right to do so by exercising (acting upon) their fundamental, inalienable Property Rights. You are still free, however, to pursue your Freedom of Speech elsewhere (if welcomed or given consent) and/or on your own private property. No individual (and certainly no group, mob, or government) holds a “blank check” over the rights and freedoms of other individuals and businesses.

Regarding the Freedom of Religion: It is my interpretation that the Founding Fathers of the U.S.A. knew that a free society had to provide for the recognition and protection of the individual’s rights (life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness), and therefore, his derivative freedom to hold, consider, believe, form, and practice the religion of his choice, while also recognizing and protecting all other individuals’ same rights, including their derivative freedom of religion – and provide such recognition and protection through a proper, representational, constitutionally-limited government. In this sense, the government was then established as a “religious neutral” protective governing body – meaning that the government of a free society is not based upon and does not represent any particular religion. Further, I think that it was the Founding Fathers’ intention to include in the Derivative Freedom of Religion the individual’s right and freedom to also hold, consider, believe, form, and practice any and all non-religious ideas and philosophies as well – as would be the rational, logical conclusion, result, and application of an individual’s primary rights.

Regarding what I call the Freedom from Religion: As the derivative freedom of religion is essentially the rational, logical conclusion, result, and application of an individual’s primary rights, it is my interpretation that what I call the “Freedom from Religion” is also a derivative freedom, as it is also essentially the rational, logical conclusion, result, and application of an individual’s primary rights. Just as an individual is free to choose and practice his own religion in a free society (freedom of religion), so is an individual also free not to choose, or associate with, any religion in a free society (freedom from religion).

Regarding the Separation of Church and State: It is my interpretation that the Founding Fathers of the U.S.A. also knew that a free society meant that the whole of society (the country, the nation) – meaning the whole of the people, the citizenry - had to be free of any government established and enforced national religion and rule, and therefore, they clearly promoted and documented the need for the absolute separation of the governing functions and duties of the representational, constitutionally-limited government from any religion (church), and including, I think, any form of mystical orientation, such as environmentalism (see my discussion regarding this in Items Nos. 9 and 10 below). The Founding Fathers knew fundamentally that any representational, protective government of a free society had to be “religious neutral.” Regardless of what many religiously-oriented people tend to believe or wish for presently (2008), the principle of the “Separation of Church and State” is fundamentally critical to a free society of individual and economic freedom (of Capitalism), as is also the principle of the “Separation of Commerce and State.”

Reference Item No. 3 above.

Why Primary Individual Rights and Derivative Freedoms are possible ONLY under Capitalism.

Primary Individual Rights and Derivative Freedoms, and the exercising of, are possible only under Capitalism because the only proper function of an objectively established constitutionally-limited government - under a laissez-faire capitalistic social-political system - is to recognize and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of any single individual and of all individuals, including the businesses and organizations, and all commerce activities, that individuals create, establish, and engage in, in an unrestricted, unregulated free-market economy.

Why Primary Individual Rights and Derivative Freedoms are NOT possible under Statism.

One of the basic principles of Statism is based on the idea that man’s life, including all of his work, belongs to the state (government or ruling group). Therefore, the most basic, fundamental right to one’s own life is a meaningless concept under any and all forms of Statism.

It is also important to remember that individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms are not recognized or protected at all under Statism.

As Ayn Rand has pointed out, the basic right to life is the “source” of all other individual rights, including property rights - to which I will add, is also the “source” to all derivative freedoms (my term).

Because of this, and since under Statism man’s life belongs to the state, any discussion of the meaning and application of all individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms under any and all forms of Statism becomes pointless, meaningless, and null and void.

Therefore, any further discussion under this section of Statism regarding basic individual rights, including property rights, and their relationship to derivative freedoms is moot.

It is foolish to pretend that individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms have any meaning or importance under Statism. When a man’s life, and his work, belongs to the state - and are not his to freely act upon - and the basic right to life is not recognized or protected, no other individual rights, including property rights, or derivative freedoms, are possible – for individuals and/or business.

That is the reality under Statism, in any and all of its forms.

Force, control, and tyranny. That is Statism. Period.

Reference Item No. 3 above.

6. The Application of Property

2008-10-12T16:18:00.003-04:00

This is my interpretation and discussion of the Concept of Property as it is applied under Capitalism, and as it is applied under Statism. The discussion of Capitalism and Property comes first, followed by the discussion of Statism and Property.

CAPITALISM and PROPERTY

Under Capitalism, all property, physical and/or intellectual, is privately owned under Capitalism. This not only includes personal, individual property, but also includes any and all property associated with businesses and/or business owners, corporations, private groups and associations, churches and private charities, etc.

The principle of property rights also includes and applies to the most basic property that a person possesses: their body, including their mind. This means that any individual has the inalienable right to use their own body and mind for whatever reason they may choose, as long as that use does not legitimately violate or infringe upon the rights of others. This also means that the state (government or ruling group), or any other group, has no business, no claim, and certainly no “right” to regulate or control any individual’s life, mind, or body.

It must be emphasized here, also, that any and all business property (such as oil fields, farm land, shopping malls, movie theaters, grocery stores, restaurants, and private schools, including the very land they sit on) is NOT “public” property. Such business properties are privately owned by an individual or group of individuals (such as a corporation), with all the applications, practices, defenses, and protections of property rights applying to them as equally as it would apply to any other typical land and/or home owner. No one – not another individual, not the “public” (the mob), not any group, nor the government – no one, for any reason (including the so-called “public good or public welfare”) – no one has a claim or “right” to any other individual’s property rights, private property, its ownership, or the use of that property by its owners.

Property Rights are as inalienable as the Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Only if a particular property were shown and proved –through the use of proper law enforcement (police) and/or through the legal process of an objective justice system (courts) - to be used by its owner(s) to be (1) legitimately violating or infringing upon another person’s individual rights, including their property rights, or (2) shown and proved to be causing physical damage or harm through such violation or infringement, or (3) shown and proved to be harming and/or destroying another property’s objective monetary value through such violation or infringement, or (4) involved in a breach of contract, would the victimized individual, or group of victimized individuals, or victimized business have the legal means to defend and protect their own individual rights, including their property rights, or contractual agreements, and collect proper, objective, legitimate retribution if and when possible and necessary.

I believe this is how genuine environmental issues and concerns would be resolved, rationally and objectively, under Capitalism - through the consistent rational and objective application, defense, and protection of property rights, using the objective rule of law. No state or governmental regulation or control of “environmental” issues or property would be necessary, and certainly no such government environmental agency, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), would be needed, required, or established.

Pollution, waste issues, and damage to the value of private property by the actions of other irresponsible property owners or criminals would be resolved through the objective, consistent application and defense of property rights, using the objective rule of law through a properly established justice system (courts) – as stated above.

Also, under Capitalism, many pollution and/or waste issues, in regards to private property, would be dealt with through the development and application of entrepreneurial business methods, products, and services – all motivated by the individual, self-interests of the businessman and the profit motive, and the self-interests of the property owner. Under Capitalism, an atmosphere of mutual benefit develops between the property owner and the businessman offering products and services to maintain property value, including eliminating pollution and waste. No governmental regulation or control of pollution and waste issues is necessary under the system of laissez-faire Capitalism.

Remember, there are no taxes of any sort, including no property taxes, under Capitalism. Therefore, the individual can better direct their entire financial resources to better serve their personal, individual self-interests and needs, which would include maintaining the value and usable condition of their property. Also, under Capitalism, the application of the objective rule of law, along with a proper, objective justice system (courts) would help recognize, preserve, defend, and protect property rights, and help protect against damage, harm, and violation of private property, including against its proper objective value.

Regarding a true capitalistic approach to property in the United States, if established under a true laissez-faire capitalist social-political system, all lands, properties, and facilities now mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of any and all Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies, would be converted to and/or turned over to private property interests, holdings, and usage without any type of government jurisdiction, regulation, mandate, oversight, or control. This would include such “public” lands, properties, and facilities, such as:

- all federal and national forest lands, “public” natural monuments and national monuments, and areas,
- all wildlife preserves, all wilderness areas, and all government established wetlands,
- all lands, properties, and facilities held by the BLM, the EPA, the Forestry Department, Coastal Commissions,
- all “public” government Federal interstate freeways and other roadways, other “public” State and Local roadways, all “public” railways, all “public” river and waterway systems,
- all “public” government education institutions and schools, all “public” education programs and facilities,
- all preserved “public” oriented and held buildings, structures, properties, and facilities considered as “historical,” “cultural,” or “character” interests,
- all “public” libraries, “public” history and natural museums, “public” theaters or amphitheaters, “public” monuments and structures, “public” art works,
- all “public” hospitals and health facilities, state run university hospitals, public daycare facilities, etc.

When a statist-oriented country, and even a mixed-economy country, makes the social and economic transition over to a true laissez-faire capitalistic-oriented country, ANY and ALL previously held “public” and government lands, properties, and facilities would be converted to and/or turned over to private property interests, holdings, and usage without any type of government jurisdiction, regulation, mandate, oversight, or control reserved or connected to such private property from that transition point on into the future.

Under Capitalism, the necessary military, police, and justice system needs and use of land would be arranged and/or negotiated with private property owners, or perhaps established through the use of easement or right-of-way arrangements with private property owners.

Regarding land and/or property that no private individual, group, or business may wish to own, perhaps a capitalist-oriented, constitutionally-limited government would hold that area of land and/or property in a temporary, limited-legislative Trust situation until there is such private interest in that land and/or property, and it is then converted over to private ownership to an interested private party, be it an individual, group, or business.

Final Note: There are NO property taxes (as there is no taxation under Capitalism), in any form or manner, under a true, proper political-social system of Laissez-faire Capitalism.

STATISM and PROPERTY

Under Statism, all property, physical and/or intellectual - both personal and business property - is regulated and/or controlled to some extent (partially or totally) by the state (government or ruling group). Individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms are not recognized, preserved, defended, nor protected (again partially or totally) by any type of statist government or group.

Statism (collectivism, socialism, communism, Marxism, nationalism, environmentalism, etc.) also assumes - through its fundamental principle that an individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group) – that the government, or ruling group, holds ownership to any individual’s physical body, including their mind (actually, of all individuals). Therefore, the state (government or ruling group) can then rationalize and justify any regulation, control, force, and/or abuse of an individual’s life, body, mind, actions, work, and property. This is how Statism – in all its various forms – accomplishes its ability to control what people can or cannot do with their lives, what people can or cannot do with their bodies, what people can or cannot do with their minds, what people can and cannot do with their work, and what people can or cannot do with their property. This is how a statist government accomplishes mandating and forcing what food we eat, what careers we choose, what medicines and drugs we use, we products we buy, where we can live, what lifestyles we follow, what we can and cannot do with our property, etc.

Public Property, in my view, is a statist concept (collectivist, Marxist, socialist, communist, nationalist, environmentalist). Public property implies ownership by the public, but the truth is that the state (government or ruling group) has control over the property and regulates that property’s use. “Public property” is owned by no one; it is only held and controlled by the state (government or ruling group), and the state allows only certain limited use, enforced by the statist corrupted police and law enforcement systems, including the statist corrupted justice system.

Eminent Domain, in my view, is another statist concept (collectivist, Marxist, socialist, communist, nationalist, environmentalist). Such an idea implies that the state (government or ruling group) holds the primary ability to use private property over and above the owners’ legitimate property rights and individual judgment in its use.

Eminent Domain, as established law, in effect gives the state the power to use the initiation of physical force to condemn and take private property for whatever use it deems necessary for whatever reason, for public use or otherwise, including condemning property to confiscate it and then hand it over to another private interest supported by the government (see Kelo vs. New London, CT). But even if a statist concept is made law, such as Eminent Domain, it is still a statist concept by definition, legal or otherwise. It is still based on the idea that an individual’s life and property belong to the state.

The Common Good is also another statist concept (collectivist, Marxist, socialist, communist, nationalist, environmentalist). I include it here because of the use of “common good” in justifying the establishment, implementation, and enforcement of Eminent Domain and Public Property by the state (government or ruling group), and in justifying the initiation and use of physical force through corrupt courts and police systems, to take away property from innocent property owners, and violating and infringing upon their property rights (which includes the individual’s use of that property).

Any and All Types of Property Taxes are applications of statist concepts, and are violations and infringements upon property rights. The government redistribution of income, profit, savings, wealth (man-made material goods), and property through forced taxation, fees, and confiscation is also a statist concept and application, and is very immoral and evil – as it fundamentally violates the individual’s right to his/her life and work, violates the individual’s right to his/her liberty (one’s ability to act freely with one’s life, work, and property), violates the individual’s right to his/her property, and violates the individual’s right to his/her pursuits of happiness.

EXAMPLES of statist (government) regulated, mandated, and controlled property in the United States, and paid for with “public” funding, meaning funding provided by government forced taxation and property confiscation:

1. All National or State Forest lands, National or State Monuments, Natural Monuments, “wildlife preserves,” “endangered species preserves,” “wilderness areas,” and/or wetlands that are mandated, regulated, and controlled by Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies.
2. All rivers and waterways mandated, regulated, and controlled by Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies.
3. In the U.S.A., all lands mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forestry Department, Coastal Commissions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any other government established agency or program (other than for purposes and uses of the police, military, or justice system and courts).
4. All lands, properties, and facilities of any Departments of Transportation, any “public” government utilities, or other “public” government entities that are mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies.
5. All lands, properties, and facilities of “public” government education institutions, schools, and programs mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies.
6. All buildings, structures, properties, and facilities of “historical,” “cultural,” or “character” interests that are mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies oriented towards preserving “historic,” “cultural,” or “character” interests.
7. All other “public use” lands, properties, and facilities such as: government established public libraries, public history and natural museums, public theaters or amphitheaters, public monuments and structures, public art works, public hospitals and health facilities, state run university hospitals, public daycare facilities, etc. – all mandated to, regulated by, and under the jurisdiction and control of Local, State, or Federal governments and government agencies (other than for the purposes and uses of police, military, or justice system and courts).

No matter how good the intention there is for the establishment of some kind of “public” land or facility (except for the purposes and uses of police, military, or the justice system and courts), paying for such lands and facilities through forced taxation, fees, and confiscation of private income, profit, savings, wealth (man-made material goods), and property – even if such action is established legally through legislation and law - is still a violation and infringement of individual rights and property rights, no matter how you describe it, justify it, or slice it. As has been said so many times over and over before, legalized theft is still theft – no matter how much “social” sugar you coat it with.

Finally, in the end, once such “public” lands and facilities get established (like any statist government program or policy), the self-preservation and survival of such government agencies, entities, and programs become the only purpose, reason, and focus for their existence, at the expense of any good or value to the “general public.” Any benefit to the “general public” becomes secondary, and/or unimportant. In the end, the only “good” or “value” considered is that which preserves the statist government, including any and all of its agencies, entities, and programs, and including its force and power over the citizenry and economy. Such is the nature of Statism.

7. The Individual's Life Under Freedom vs. Force

2008-10-12T16:17:00.004-04:00

This is a discussion about how Capitalism relates to the Individual's Life versus how Statism relates to the Individual's Life. The discussion regarding Capitalism and the Individual's Life comes first, followed by the discussion regarding Statism and the Individual's Life.

Capitalism as it relates to the Individual’s Life.

Capitalism represents the recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of inalienable individual rights, including property rights, and all derivative freedoms (see Item No. 8 below). The individual is free to pursue their life as they choose, while the individual rights and property of all other individuals are recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government - from the initiation of physical force and fraud by any and all other individuals, groups, foreign nations, and especially from the government itself – meaning from the protective, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government itself.

In my opinion, any-and-all laws and/or government legislation must first past the “litmus test” of whether or not they violate or infringe upon individual rights, including property rights, all derivative freedoms, and including any-and-all forms of commerce - in any way or manner whatsoever, against any one, single individual or business. All laws and legislations must past such a social-political “litmus test” before they can become proper, objective, legitimate, legal laws and/or legislation.

To maintain Capitalism and a free society, all laws and legislation must be established rationally, objectively, and consistently under the principles of a rational approach to individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and including unregulated economic freedom, as well as under the principle that all property is privately owned.

To maintain Capitalism and a free society, there cannot exist laws and/or legislation that violate or infringe upon – in any way or in any manner - the rights of any, one single individual or business, while allowing another individual, a group of individuals, or a business the freedom to do whatever they wish at the expense of the rights of others – or laws and/or legislation that provides certain government entitlements, welfare, and/or subsidies for one group of individuals and businesses at the expense and violation of other individuals or businesses.

EXAMPLES: (1) Allowing all-women schools or schools for particular racial groups, but not allowing all-men schools or all-white schools or schools only for 50 year old people. (2) Providing government agriculture subsidies (welfare from taxation) to farmers, but no subsidies to gift shops.

Regarding Individual Liberty and Personal Choices under Capitalism.

Under a true, proper laissez-faire capitalistic social-political system -- where true Individual and Economic Freedom, Individual Rights, and Property Rights are practiced, recognized, preserved, defended, and protected, AND as long as individuals do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights and property rights of others while exercising their own freedom and rights -- government force cannot be used (by any particular individual, group, business, or by the government itself) to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control any individual’s right to their own life, their liberty, their property rights, their own pursuits of happiness, their derivative freedoms, or any of their economic, business, and commerce freedoms, pursuits, and activities -- for any reason, claim, intention, demand, or justification whatsoever. Infringement upon and violation of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights -- by either private force, government sanctioned private force, or by direct coercive government force -- is not a “right” of any particular individual, group, or the government itself.

Whether an individual’s choices, decisions, actions, practices, activities, aspects, personal or business plans, life approaches, or life-styles are rational or irrational, AND as long as that individual’s actions and activities are not truly violating or infringing upon any other person’s individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, including any businesses’ rights and property rights, AND as long as that individual is not initiating physical force against or engaging in fraud against another person or business, then a proper capitalistic constitutionally-limited government cannot use force – and cannot be used by others - to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control any part of that individual’s life, their individual rights, their property rights, any of their choices and actions, including any and all of their business and commerce plans, activities, and practices. This includes not being able to demand or use government force to force upon others one’s personal “social-engineering” or political agenda, one’s economic and business ideas, one’s personal life-style dictates, or one’s personal religious or environmental ideologies, agenda, beliefs, dogmas, and dictates.

This also means that under a true, proper laissez-faire capitalistic social-political system, the government, any citizen, or any business cannot use or manipulate the government to develop, design, pass, establish, regulate, mandate, dictate, and force any laws or legislation that violate or infringe upon, in any way, the individual’s life, their individual liberty, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and personal pursuits of happiness – whether that pursuit of happiness (that choice or activity) by an individual is personally rational or irrational. As long as free individuals, organizations, and/or businesses do not truly violate, or infringe upon, the individual rights and property rights of other individuals, and do not engage in the initiation of physical force against other individuals, then it is “hands-off” by the government, and “hands-off” by any politician, government official, or any other private citizen and organization. Again, the only proper function, the only purpose, of a proper, constitutionally-limited government (including all associated politicians, government officials, or government employees) is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms. That’s it! Period!

At this point, I want to address some specific, “not so popular” individual personal choices, activities, and practices that so many people, organizations, and politicians these days (as of 2008) assume must be regulated and controlled by the government, but are really only choices and activities that are legitimately based on the individual simply exercising their individual rights, property rights, and economic freedoms. Under true Laissez-faire Capitalism, these specific individual personal choices, activities, and practices -- including any and all related commerce transactions by individuals and/or businesses -- would include, among other things, such things as: eating choices and practices, smoking, alcoholic drinking, drug use (of any and all drugs), any gaming or gambling, or prostitution.

Under Laissez-faire Capitalism, there is NO government interference, restriction, regulation, mandates, dictates, or control of any such individual personal choices, or activities, or practices associated with: eating habits, smoking, alcoholic drinking, drug use (of any drug), any gaming or gambling, or prostitution. This means that under Laissez-faire Capitalism, there is NO government interference, restriction, regulation, mandates, dictates, or control of (1) any and all food business, products, or services, of (2) any and all cigarettes or other smoking business, products, or services, of (3) any and all liquor business, products, or services, of (4) any and all drugs and related business, products, or services, of (5) any and all gaming or gambling business, products, or services, nor of (6) any and all business, products, or services associated with prostitution.

This means that under true Laissez-faire Capitalism, with true individual and economic freedom, and the recognition and protection of individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms by the government, these “not so popular” choices, activities, and practices would be as legitimate – and as legal - as any other legitimate individual personal choice, activity, or practice (rational or irrational) for both individuals and/or businesses.

As long as any personal choice, activity, or practice is engaged in on an individual’s own private property, or is given consent to do so on a property or business by the property and/or business owner (meaning their private property, and recognizing that business property is not so-called “public” property), AND as long as any such personal choice, activity, or practice does not truly endanger the lives of other individuals, or harm and damage the property of other individuals or businesses, or does not truly infringe upon or violate individual or economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, or derivative freedoms of other individuals and/or businesses – then any individual personal choice, activity, or practice, including those “not so popular” ones, is no one else’s business, and certainly not the business of a proper protective, constitutionally-limited government.

Since the individual has the absolute, inalienable right to his/her own life, AND all property is privately owned under Capitalism, and as long as there is no criminal activity against other individuals or businesses, or as long as there is no true infringement or violation of rights, property rights, and freedoms, then no one, no group, nor the government, has any “right” to stop, or interfere with, or regulate, or mandate, or dictate, or control another individual’s life, rights, property, freedoms, choices, activities, or practices, and no one, no group, nor the government, has any “right” to stop, or interfere with, or regulate, or mandate, or dictate, or control a business’s rights, property, freedoms, choices, activities, or practices (including what product, service, or process they choose to offer on the market, how they wish to operate and run their business, any commerce activities and practices, pricing structures, whom they wish to sell to, their financing, or anything else associated with their business.

Therefore, in considering the “not so popular” choices, activities, and practices by some individuals and/or businesses, under Laissez-faire Capitalism and Freedom:
- any eating choices and practices, including any and all related food business, products, and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated;
- any smoking choices and practices, including any and all related smoking business, products, and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated;
- any alcoholic drinking choices and practices, including any and all related liquor business, products, and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated;
- any drug use, choices, and practices, including any and all related drugs, and drug business, products, and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated;
- any gaming or gambling choices and practices, including any and all related business, products, and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated;
- any prostitution activities, choices, and practices, including any and all related business, products and services would be legitimate, legal, unrestricted, and unregulated.

One may not support, agree with, nor like the choices, activities, or practices -- rational or irrational -- of other fellow individual citizens, or that of businesses, and that is certainly your right to not support or agree. But, one does not have any claim, justification, demand, or “right” to interfere with, restrict, regulate, violate, infringe upon, or control the rights of others, or to use government force and control to do the same -- no matter how sincere or well-meaning one’s intentions are, or just because one doesn’t support, agree with, nor like, the individual personal choices, activities, and practices of other individuals and/or businesses. As long as individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms are recognized and respected, AND as long as individual, group, and/or business choices, activities, or practices do not truly violate or infringe upon the individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of others, then people are free to live the lives they choose (rationally or irrationally), and individuals and businesses are free to practice business and engage in commerce as they deem best and so choose for themselves (rationally or irrationally).

Living with Individual Freedom and under Laissez-faire Capitalism means recognizing and respecting, and not interfering with, violating, or infringing upon your fellow citizens’ individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, and that your fellow citizens have the right and freedom (their individual liberty) to (1) choose how they wish to live their individual personal lives, (2) what they wish to do with their individual personal lives, including what they wish to do with their own bodies, (3) what they wish to do with their own private property, (4) engage in what life-styles, values, activities, practices, and habits they so want, and/or (5) how they wish to set up and conduct their own commerce and businesses activities, including what products and services they want to provide and sell – regardless whether that individual right and freedom involves rational or irrational choices, actions, and decisions. As long as such choices, actions, and decisions do not truly violate or infringe upon the rights of others, then it is “mind your own business” -- and exercise, practice, and pursue your own life’s interests and goals, your own individual and economic freedom, your own individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms.

TO REPEAT: as long as individuals and businesses are NOT truly interfering with, violating, or infringing upon individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, including all related commerce and business rights and activities of both individuals and businesses, then individuals and businesses are free to live, pursue, choose, act, plan, and engage in personal interests, values, goals, and activities, including any and all commerce and businesses practices, activities, and transactions as they so choose to pursue -- all under the applications of true Individual Freedom and true Economic Freedom (Laissez-faire Capitalism) -- and are free to do so without the fear of and threat of the initiation of physical force by the government, meaning no initiation of government force (including private force sanctioned by the government) used to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and any and all commerce activities. The government’s only proper function is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect such rights and freedoms.

Living with Individual Freedom and under Laissez-faire Capitalism, with a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government, means “hands-off” the individual’s life, their individual and economic freedom, their individual rights, including their property rights, and their derivative freedoms, and it means “hands-off” on businesses and private organizations, including any and all economic, commerce and trade, and/or business practices and activities.

There are NO such “rights” or claims to using government force to force one’s own personal views, demands, desires, designs, needs, wants, life-style, morality, religion, beliefs, ideas, dogmas, schemes, agenda, or social-engineering plans onto others, including onto businesses and/or organizations, or on any type of commerce, including banking. There are NO such “rights” or claims to using government force to control another person’s rights, including their life, their liberty, their property, their pursuits of happiness, or their derivative freedoms, or to control or regulate any commerce, including banking, or business, with the same intentions. There is NO such “right” or claim to enslave (establishing slavery) any individual, group of individuals, any organization, or any business, no matter what your intentions, agenda, goals, dreams, or plans – private or political. There is NO “right” to societal collective slavery or tyranny, as there is NO “right” to slavery or tyranny period.

Reference Items Nos. 3, 4, 8, 15, 40-42, 48, 51, 52, 59-62. Also see the “Separation of State vs. Union of State" blog posting below, Item No. 82.

Statism as it Relates to the Individual's Life.

The individual’s life belongs to the state under Statism, and the state (government or ruling group) can do whatever it wants with an individual’s life, liberty, and property. Under Statism, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms are not recognized, not preserved, not defended, and not protected – and therefore, they are usually infringed upon and violated by the state (government or ruling group) itself, and additionally even infringed upon and violated by private interests, private groups, and businesses that are favored by the state through special interests, economic favoritism, lobbyist, corrupt and arbitrary legislation and laws, or state mandated monopolies.

Under Statism, the infringement upon, violation, and use of physical force and terror, against the very lives of individuals – meaning their very life and physical body, individual rights, property rights (including their body), and derivative freedoms - is allowed, even encouraged, by both corrupt private and governmental parties.

Under Statism, most, if not all, law and/or legislation is written and practiced at the expense of, the violation of, and the infringement upon individual freedom, individual rights, including property rights, any and all derivative freedoms, and all economic freedom and activities.

Most, if not all, law and/or legislation is written to enhance and expand the statist-government’s power and control, including its use of the initiation of physical force, while usually pandering to special interest groups, government (public) educational interests, governmental agencies, unions, favored racial and/or religious groups, favored businesses-corporations-organizations-professional societies, environmentalism, military expansion, etc.

Also, laws and legislation based on a ruling religion (such as Sharia Law under Islam) are easier to establish under Statism.

Statist government enforced discrimination.

Statism promotes and encourages government enforced discrimination, through law and legislation, by one group of individuals and/or business against other individuals and/or businesses. For example, native American Indians are allowed, by the government, to have casino and gaming enterprises on their properties, while other property owners are prohibited, by the same government, from starting their own casino and gaming enterprises on their own property – or only allowed on certain selected, restricted parcels of land (such as Atlantic City).

See Items Nos. 3, 4, 8, 15, 40-42, 48, 51, 52, 59-62. Also see the “Separation of State vs. Union of State" blog posting below, Item No. 82.

8. Capitalist Government vs. Statist Government

2008-10-12T16:16:00.003-04:00

This is my interpretation and discussion of the Nature of a Capitalist Government versus the Nature of a Statist Government. The discussion of a Capitalist Government comes first, followed by the discussion of a Statist Government.

THE NATURE OF A CAPITALIST GOVERNMENT

A capitalist government is a proper, objectively established constitutionally-limited government that recognizes, preserves, defends, and protects individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms, including economic freedom, and leaves citizens (individuals) alone to freely make choices and act based on Individual Freedom.

A government whose only purpose is limited to three basic functions:
(1) the police and law enforcement (to protect against criminals),
(2) the military/army (to protect against foreign attacks), and
(3) an objective justice system (courts) that are based on rational and objective rules and laws (to protect against the violation and infringement of individual rights, including property rights, to protect contracts from breach or fraud, and to objectively settle disputes).

See Item No. 2 above.

For a full discussion on the nature of government, please see Ayn Rand’s essay “The Nature of Government” from her book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 14.

Capitalism is the social system of Individual Freedom, Individual Rights, including Property Rights, where the individual is free to pursue his/her own self-interests and pursuits of happiness, while not infringing upon or violating the individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of any and all other free individuals – where an objectively established, constitutionally-limited government recognizes and is the preserver, the defender, and the protector of the individual’s rights, property rights, all derivative freedoms, and all unregulated, free-market trade, business, and commerce activities.

A true capitalist type limited-government provides only the three (3) essential functions of government: the police (law enforcement), the military, and an objective justice system - all of which are true peace keepers, and preservers, protectors, and defenders of individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, upholding contractual agreements, and unregulated free-market commerce and trade.

Under true Laissez-faire Capitalism:

- No government interference in private affairs.
- No government force-oriented regulatory departments or bureaus, such as the EPA or the IRS.
- No special interest groups manipulating government.
- No government regulation or control of commerce.
- No taxation of income, wealth, profits, savings, financial activities, or property.
- No government violation or infringement of property rights or property.
- No Eminent Domain.
- No governmental coercion or tyranny against the citizenry or the economy.
- A government that recognizes, preserves, defends, and protects the individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of its citizenry and businesses.
- Only free individuals pursuing individual self-interests and happiness, among millions of other individuals doing the same.
- Millions of free individuals, all coexisting and living together peacefully under individual voluntary cooperation and an unregulated free-trade economy.
- Encourages genuine goodwill and benevolence towards one’s fellow man.
- No masters. No slaves. Only free individuals.

That is the nature of Capitalism.

For an insightful discussion regarding the nature of government, see Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 14, “The Nature of Government,” pb pp. 107-115 (Signet, ~1980).

Reference Item No. 30 below.

THE NATURE OF A STATIST GOVERNMENT

A statist government is an overpowering, tyrannical, and growing government that interferes with, infringes upon, regulates, and controls its citizenry, their individual rights, their property rights and property, their economic freedom, including any and/or all commerce and business activities and applications between both producer and consumer, domestically and/or internationally (if not totally seized by the state).

Statism represents using coercive government force, intimidation, enslavement, and physical terror against innocent citizens and businesses, including the initiation of physical force against other nations (imperialism) if necessary to preserve and sustain its tyrannical system, and maintain its power and control.

A government that forms a police force to control, intimidate, terrorize, rape, and force its citizenry into submission; a government that forms an army to attack and invade other nations, and uses the justice system and courts - based on arbitrary, irrational and/or religious law - to control and terrorize its citizenry.

As Statism grows, the governments, rulers, dictators, etc., become increasingly ruthless in the use of power and terror towards the citizenry and any surrounding nations to maintain their power and control.

Observe the end of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, as well as present day China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, many African Republics, etc.

See Item No. 2 above.

Statism is the social system of Masters and Slaves, where the state is the master, and the individual is the slave - no matter in what form or for what reason.

A statist type government establishes corrupt police (law enforcement), corrupt military, corrupt justice systems, and corrupt government agencies and institutions (such as the EPA) that are slave enforcers for the state, tax enforcers for the state, and violators and abusers of individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and of any free-market commerce and trade allowed to exist.

Under all and any forms of Statism:

- Government controlled society.
- The individual’s life belongs to the State.
- Unlimited government regulation and control.
- Government coercion, force, and tyranny.
- Massive taxation, with the threat of going to jail if you don’t pay the taxes (slavery).
- Limited or no freedom.
- Limited or no individual rights.
- Limited or no property rights.
- Limited or no derivative freedoms.
- Encourages contempt and malevolence towards one’s fellow man.
- Only Masters and Slaves.

That is the nature of Statism.

”A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."
--- Thomas Jefferson

” ‘Society’ is a fine word, and it saves us the trouble of thinking.”
--- William Graham Sumner, 1883

For an insightful discussion regarding the nature of government, see Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, Chapter 14, “The Nature of Government,” pb pp. 107-115 (Signet, ~1980).

Reference Item No. 30 below.

9. The Ideas and Philosophies Behind Each

2008-10-12T16:15:00.013-04:00

This is a discussion about the philosophies and ideas behind Capitalism, and the philosophies and ideas behind Statism. The discussion of Capitalism comes first, followed by the discussion of Statism.

THE PHILOSOPHIES AND POLITICAL IDEAS BEHIND CAPITALISM

Philosophies and political ideas that create, promote, support, establish, defend, maintain, and provide a moral defense for Capitalism:

- Individualism and Objectivity towards Reality
- Rational Self-interest
- “Primacy of Existence” ideas (Ayn Rand)
- Fundamental Principle and Practice of Reason
- The Individual’s Inalienable Right to his/her own Life
- Application of the Rational Concept of Freedom (As presented by Dr. George Reisman in Capitalism)
- Man’s life as the standard of value (Ayn Rand)
- Objectivism (the philosophy of Ayn Rand)
- the 18th century Enlightenment and philosophes
- Jeffersonian Conservatism
- Irreligious Conservatism
- John Adams' Limited Federalism
- The Austrian School of Economics
- Classical Liberalism or Market Liberalism
- Individual freedom and liberty
- Individual rights, including property rights
- freedom of and freedom from religious and ideas (separation of church and state)
- the ideas/concepts behind an objective rule of law
- A proper, objectively established constitutionally-limited government

Pro-Reality, Pro-Reason, Pro-Man, Pro-Freedom, and Pro-Capitalism writings of:

- Aristotle
- John Locke
- Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations
- James Mill, John Stuart Mill, and David Hume
- David Ricardo and Jean-Baptiste Say
- Thomas Paine: Common Sense
- Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence
- Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged; Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
- Ludwig Von Mises (Austrian School of Economics)
- Henry Hazlitt: Economics in One Lesson
- F.A. Hayek and Murray Rothbard
- George Reisman: Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics
- Andrew Bernstein: The Capitalist Manifesto
- Thomas Sowell
- Walter E. Williams

Capitalism represents Economic Freedom fueled by Individual Freedom.

THE PHILOSOPHIES AND POLITICAL IDEAS BEHIND STATISM

Philosophies and political ideas that create, promote, support, establish, and maintain Statism (in any of its various forms):

- Altruism, and its political application, Collectivism
- Irrationalism and Subjectivism
- “Primacy of Consciousness” ideas
- Religion and Mysticism, and all related dogmas
- “Man is Evil and must be enslaved/controlled” ideas
- The Individual’s Life belongs to the State/Group
- Application of the Anarchic Concept of Freedom (As presented by Dr. George Reisman in Capitalism)
- Socialism and Communism
- Marxism and Leninism
- Fascism and Totalitarianism
- Nazism (National Socialism)
- Polylogism (such as Marxian Polylogism), see Ayn Rand’s explanation of Polylogism at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line.
- Nationalism and Nationalist Federalism
- Mercantilism
- Authoritarian Conservatism
- Alexander Hamilton style Centralized Federalism (mercantilism and imperialism), see article “The Founding Father of Crony Capitalism,” by Thomas J. DiLorenzo.
- Theocratic Conservatism
- Democracy (majority rule, mob rule)
- Aristocracy, Feudalism, Kingdoms, Tribalism
- Multiculturalism and Egalitarianism
- Equalitarianism
- Pragmatism
- Keynesianism (statist economics)
- “Common Wealth” Economics Ideologies
- Social Liberalism or Democratic Liberalism
- Progressivism, both Leftist and Conservative forms
- Modern day Leftist-Liberalism Ideas and Agenda
- Modern day Leftist-Elitism or Elitist Liberalism
- Universalism
- Post Modernism
- Democrat Leftists and Progressives
- Modern day U.S. Democrat Party oriented towards socialist political ideas, policies, and agendas
- Modern day U.S. Republican Party oriented towards religious political ideas, policies, and agendas
- Anti-industrial and anti-technology ideas
- Unionism and Government Mandated Monopolies
- Alarmist Politics
- Fear-Mongering and/or Panic-Mongering Ideologies (such as over-population, depletion of natural resources, and global warming)
- Leftist Victim-hood Ideology
- Government Controlled (Public) School ideas/concepts
- Conservationism
- Environmentalism & Global Warming Hysteria
- and any other “man’s life belongs to the state, the church, or the group” idea, belief, religion, or philosophy.

Anti-Reality, Anti-Reason, Anti-Man, Anti-Freedom, and Pro-Statism writings of:

- Plato
- Emmanuel Kant, and Hegel
- Karl Marx and Frederick Engels: The Communist Manifesto
- Vladimir Lenin
- John Dewey
- John Maynard Keynes: Keynesian Economics
- and the contemporary writings of environmentalists John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, and Al Gore.

Statism represents Economic Chaos built on Collective Slavery.

Statism represents Institutionalized Slavery.

Environmentalism represents Collective-Socialist Green Slavery.

REGARDING THE DANGER OF ENVIRONMENTALISM

In addressing the miserable state of current social-political affairs worldwide, I want to emphasize the extreme and alarming danger of the present day ever-growing Environmental Movement (Environmentalism) and its mindless, emotionally-intoxicating, irrational, mankind-hateful, economic fear-oriented, non-scientific, and destructive ideas and activities against all freedom-oriented, industrialized, capitalistic social-political systems and societies worldwide. I want to especially emphasize the Environmental Movement’s feverish hatred and fear towards mankind and industrialized society – meaning the environmentalists’ hatred towards and fear of:

- individual and economic freedom (Capitalism),
- individual rights and property rights,
- free societies, and free-markets and commerce,
- science and today’s life-saving technology and industry,
- business and economic productivity,
- human prosperity, wealth production, and economic progress,
- a civilization of peaceful, voluntary cooperation among individuals and businesses (where no coercive government force, regulation, control, or tyranny can be used, only where a proper government recognizes and protects the rights of man),
- industrial civilization and all the benefits and prosperity it brings to the human race,
- reason and logic,
- human ability and ingenuity, and
- human life itself.

”The essential, all encompassing doctrine of the environmental movement is that the continuation of economic progress is both impossible and dangerous.”
--- Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 3, “Natural Resources and The Environment,” Part B, “The Ecological Assault on Economic Progress,” Section 2, “The Claims of the Environmental Movement and Its Pathology of Fear and Hatred,” p. 76 (Jameson Books, 1998). Reprinted with permission.

My Interpretation of the Environmental Movement.

From what I have personally studied, it is my opinion that, fundamentally, Environmentalism is nothing more than a “nature-oriented mysticism” – in what could almost be described as a religion, where “nature” has replaced a “god” - where its followers and supporters are “religiously” fanatical about their “belief” that nature is the Good, and man is the Evil, and that this fundamental idea is “above” any proof, evidence, or debate. The environmental movement (environmentalism) stems from the fundamental belief that the of “value” of nature is allegedly intrinsic in nature itself, and such value has nothing to do whatsoever with man’s relationship with nature, meaning with existence – where the “value” of a thing in nature (an animal, a tree, a rock, or even the whole of “nature” itself) is completely separated, even severed, from any possible type of relationship that man might have with nature, including the use of his reasoning mind to discover, understand, and use nature (including natural resources) towards the betterment and prosperity of his life.

But “value” is not intrinsic in anything. “Value” is a concept that man forms to identify, explain, and guide his relationship with existence, with all things in reality – as all his concepts do – and the concept of “value” can only be applied by man, the conceptual animal. The concept of value gives man the ability to distinguish between what is good and beneficial to him and for him in reality, and what is bad, evil, harmful, and destructive to him and for him in reality. Non-conceptual animals, plants, and inanimate objects cannot conceptualize anything: not “values,” not “good,” not “evil,” not “rights,” not “beneficial,” not even the concept “nothing.” Non-conceptual animals, plants, and inanimate objects just “are” – they just exist – they are neither good nor bad. The concept “value” does not exist mysteriously somehow “inside” nature, or “inside” any or all other entities in the universe. Because of man’s nature as a conceptual being, it is only man that forms the concept of value to help identify, explain, and guide his relationship with existence, good and bad – and that includes the individual’s ability to judge his/her relationships with all other human beings.

For example: non-conceptual animals and plants cannot conceive (conceptualize) any idea of “value” that the sun has for their survival, good or bad – they only perceive and react to existence. Man, on the other hand, because he can and must conceptualize in order to survive, can conceive the concept of value in his relationship to the sun, and therefore, can identify and explain why the sun has “good” value to life as in helping plants grow and providing warmth, but in other instances has “bad” value as damaging skin or harming eyes. In this same vain, man can, through the concept of value, identify and judge such things as:

1) why Capitalism and Freedom is good, beneficial, and essential to our survival, prosperity, and peaceful existence, and why Statism and Coercive Government Force is bad, evil, harmful, and destructive to our survival and prosperity, and creates social tyranny and economic chaos, and
2) why Property Rights and Wealth Production are also good, beneficial, and essential to our survival, prosperity, and peaceful existence, and why Environmentalism and Wealth Redistribution (forced confiscation of property) are also bad, evil, harmful, and destructive to our survival and prosperity, and creates social tyranny and economic chaos.

-- For a full, complete discussion regarding the dangers and “assault” of Environmentalism against human life and the economy, including a good explanation of the “alleged intrinsic value of nature” that environmentalism is based upon, see Dr. George Reisman’s essay “The Ecological Assault Against Economic Progress,” from his book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 3, “Natural Resources and the Environment,” Part B, “The Ecological Assault Against Economic Progress,” pp. 76-115 (Jameson Books, 1998). Also see Dr. George Reisman’s pamphlet essay The Toxicity of Environmentalism - this essay was also published at the Ludwig Von Mises Institute website.

-- Also, see Ayn Rand’s edited writings regarding the concept of value at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line - subject ”Values”.

-- Also, see Ayn Rand’s edited writings regarding the impact of the environmental movement of social and economic progress at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line – subject “Ecology/Environmental Movement”.

Environmentalism – and its extended Global Warming hysteria – IS NOT based on an objective, rational, or scientific approach and/or view towards truly understanding nature and existence, or man’s relationship to nature and existence. Environmentalism is fundamentally based on a subjective, irrational, and mystical approach to, and view of, nature and existence, backed by its underlying hatred of man, his life, his rational mind, and every good attribute that belongs to man, freedom, and industrial civilization. It is my opinion that Environmentalism, as any type of serious intellectual movement, is fundamentally-conceptually flawed from its beginning inception because it is fundamentally driven by emotionalism, irrationalism, fear, and hatred towards mankind, economic progress, and industrial civilization, and has nothing to do whatsoever with true scientific study, or anything to do with the use of reason and logic, or anything to do with providing a better life for mankind.

Environmentalism is a statist ideology because it replaces the “god” (in Theocracies) or the “society,” the “state,” the “common good” (as in Socialist or Communist countries) with “nature” as the fundamental axiom upon which all human beings must sacrifice themselves to, and be forced to do so by the state (government or ruling group). In any manner, under Statism, man’s life (human life) belongs to the state (government or ruling group) no matter what the fundamental reason – a god, society, or nature. Under Environmentalism, human beings must sacrifice themselves for the good of nature – and like any other type of Statism, this is accomplish only by government force and tyranny by the “selected” few who control the state.

It is my opinion that if the present Environmental Movement and Global Warming hysteria is not curtailed and stopped, then all the benefits of individual freedom, Capitalism, and a peaceful industrial civilization will be lost, with disastrous, dire consequences for all of mankind. Witness the present day murder of millions of people every year due to malaria and the governmental forbidden use of DDT to kill mosquitoes. This is Environmentalism in action, and it is vile to its core.

”All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
--- Quote attributed to Edmund Burke (1729-1797), British Statesman.

Again, Environmentalism represents Collective-Socialist Green Slavery.

10. Variations on a Theme

2008-10-12T16:14:00.006-04:00

This is my interpretation, discussion, and commentary regarding the various forms of social-political systems that are possible and/or can develop out of the applications of the fundamental defining elements of each system. Thus the title "Variations of a Theme." The discussion of Capitalism's possible variations comes first, followed by the discussion of Statism's possible variations.

TYPES OF CAPITALIST GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

A capitalist government system is any laissez-faire capitalistic, constitutionally-limited government system that is formed on the recognition of individual rights, property rights, and where “all property is privately owned,” (Ayn Rand). There is only one true capitalist social-political system possible: Laissez-faire Capitalism.

Perhaps the closest example of a true laissez-faire capitalist system the world has ever experienced was the United States of America from approximately 1865 to 1925, despite even the introduction of such statist government legislation as the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. For a full discussion on this period in U.S. history, please see Andrew Bernstein’s essay “The Inventive Period” from his book The Capitalist Manifesto, Chapter 5, pp. 137-161 (University Press of America, 2005).

I would like to point out that while the United States of America is the greatest historical example yet of a capitalistic country, it is not necessarily the only possible model of forming a true freedom-oriented, laissez-faire capitalistic nation under a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government. The of the United States government, though fundamentally oriented around individual freedom and rights, is nonetheless structured around the concept of states’ rights – because the U.S. is a collection of states. However, as the title of this segment implies (variations on a theme), the types of capitalistic social-political systems possible elsewhere are as limitless as the mind and imagination of a free man is limitless.

For example, there might exist someday a Non-Party Affiliated Style of Capitalist Government. Or perhaps a Capitalist Government set up to function within a nation where there are no separate, individual states, or no internal “political/governmental” boundaries whatsoever, only the boundaries and limits of private property. Or perhaps a Capitalist Government set up to function within a Space Colony Nation separated from planet Earth.

Another example of a Capitalist Government might include four branches of government: an executive branch, a legislative branch, a judicial branch, and perhaps an Violation of Rights Overview Branch – a branch of government that polices and monitors the other three branches of government against any governmental violations and infringements of individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and all commerce activities and applications, as well as overseeing government activities, legislation, and judicial decisions regarding their relationship and affect towards individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and all commerce (business) activity and applications. Sort of a “fourth” element in a proper government’s internal checks and balances.

The important thing to remember is that as long as the structure of a capitalistic government is established and implemented under the fundamental principles of Capitalism – the recognition and protection of individual rights and property rights, private ownership of all property, individual and economic freedom, a complete laissez-faire unregulated free-market and commerce, the objective rule of law, with the government limited to its three basic functions: a proper objective justice system (courts), proper police protection, and proper military defense – any such system will be established as a truly freedom-oriented, laissez-faire capitalist social-political system and country. Only the details and specifics of implementing the fundamental principles of Freedom and Capitalism in forming a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited protective government will vary.

With many nations competing on the basic principles of individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, and free-market economics, there would exist endless possibilities of how a proper capitalistic, limited government could be formed, structured, and established – the end result still being a free, laissez-faire capitalist society.

TYPES OF STATIST GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

- Mixed-economies (semi-statist political systems) Democracies (majority rule or mob rule governments)
- Theocracies (of any and all types of religions or mysticisms)
- Socialist ruled governments or dictatorships
- Communist ruled governments or dictatorships
- Fascist ruled governments or dictatorships
- Nazis governments and dictatorships
- Nationalist governments
- Judicial Oligarchies
- Aristocracies, Kingdoms, Monarchies, Oligarchies
- Primitive Tribal Communes
- Ecologracy (what I call statist systems and/or governments that are based on the ideas of environmentalism, conservatism, or any other ecological ideology oriented towards the “blind” and/or mystical worship of nature, and the ignorance, hatred, and fear of mankind and his unique intelligence, of individual freedom, of economic progress, and of industrial civilization).

“Ecologracy” is my own original term for an environmental-ecological type statist system and government – where the citizenry of a country is forced into political slavery to serve nature and environmental agenda, ideals, policy, and practices. For example, the current “man-made global warming” hysteria, and the political push to force conservationism, are political ways to accomplish the establishment of an Ecologracy.

No matter what you call any of these statist-oriented systems, it is still state (government or ruling group) force, control, and tyranny over the lives of individuals and the economy.

Important Note regarding mixed-economies.

Though a mixed-economy is not technically a pure statist social-political system, I include it in my Statism column because a mixed-economy is also NOT a true capitalist social-political system either. In Ayn Rand’s words, a mixed-economy is simply a “semi-socialized economy” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal). Mixed-economies are free-market oriented systems with limited elements of free-market business and limited individual rights, including limited property rights that are regulated and controlled to various degrees by a statist government and its agencies, and differ from one to the next only to the degree of (1) statist-socialist-communist-Marxist governmental intervention, policies, practices, mandates, regulation, force, and control, and (2) whatever elements of Capitalism, freedom, individual rights, and property rights that are allowed to exist and function under a statist-oriented government and/or ruling group (such as the current 2008 United States Congress, the current 2008 Canadian Parliament, or the current 2008 English Parliament).

As the title of this segment implies “variations of a theme,” the types of statist social-political systems that can possibly be established are by no means limited to the social-political systems listed above.

Any social-political system established under the fundamental principles of Statism - an individual’s life belongs to the state (the government or ruling group), and such state regulates and controls the economic system of the country – such a system is still a statist social-political system and country. Only the details of implementing the fundamental principles of Statism in the form of some type of statist government will vary.

The end result is still the same: control and enslavement of a country’s citizens, partial-to-total regulation and control of a country’s economic and social system, and state (government) force and tyranny.

And no matter the final form a Statist-type government may take, the one fundamental element will always remain and exist: that man’s life belongs to the state (meaning the individual life of all and every single man, woman, and child).

A word on the Fundamental Difference between The United States of America and Europe.

The United States of America was formed and established on the fundamental principles of Individualism and Individual Freedom, including the naturally based (not those endowed) Individual Rights, Property Rights, and Derivative Freedoms, along with the principles of an Unregulated Free-Market Economy (economic freedom). These were the basic concepts upon which The United States of America and its constitutionally-limited, representational government were formed and established. For the first time in the history of mankind, the government was formed to serve and protect man the individual, NOT to enslave or control man. The United States government was initially formed and established to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual freedom, individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms – and if the U.S. were (and is) to survive, that meant for all individuals, men and women alike, for all races, creeds, and colors.

European countries to date have always been formed and established with the fundamental principles of Statism, that is, with the principles of Collectivism and some form of State Force and Control over the Individual (meaning force and control by a government or ruling group), including the fundamental view that the individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group) where Individual Rights or Property Rights are limited or do not exist – whether the country’s government was in the form of a tribal commune, a Roman Empire and Caesar, a church or religion, a monarchy, a kingdom of sorts, or some type of socialist, nationalist, communist, Nazi, or fascist regime. Even though there are examples of limited individual freedom and rights, including the practice and protection of property rights, throughout Europe, European governments have generally been established under some form of Statism. Also, the European Economies have always been oriented around some form of State (government or ruling group) regulation and control – creating not true capitalist economies, but semi-socialist economies, that is, mixed-economies.

As with any other country in the world, if the countries of Europe are ever to break free of the chains of Statism, they must first adopt, establish, and start with the fundamental principle that the individual’s life (man or woman) does not belong to the State (government or ruling group), but that individual’s life belongs only onto themselves as independent human beings, and that the purpose of any formed and established government is to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect Individual Freedom, Economic Freedom, Individual Rights, Property Rights, and Derivative Freedoms of all individuals and businesses, while also defending, protecting, and not interfering with an Unregulated Free-Market Economy, letting it exist and function as such.

This is the only way to rid Europe, and the rest of the world, of Statism, in any and all of its forms.

A WORD OF CAUTION TO AMERICANS.

If the United States of America is to continue to survive as it was initially intended in Freedom and Capitalism (see above), then Statism in any and all of its forms (nationalism, socialism, leftist-liberalism, communism, Marxism, fascism, or environmentalism) MUST be rejected, shunned, denounced, stopped, and any statist-oriented politicians and government officials discouraged away from government and voted out of office. Especially, Socialism, Environmentalism, and the “man-made” Global Warming hysteria MUST be completely and unequivocally rejected, shunned, and denounced.

If the U.S.A. is to survive as its original intent, then the United States government must be returned to, and kept limited and constrained, to its original constitutional duties and directives of recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting the individual freedom, individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms of all individuals, men and women alike, for all races, creeds, and colors, as well as recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting an unregulated free-market economy.

11. Division of Labor - Keep It or Lose It

2008-10-12T16:13:00.003-04:00

Capitalism and the ESTABLISHMENT of the Division of Labor.

Capitalism represents the emergence and establishment and incalculable benefits of an immense, peaceful, free-associating, voluntarily cooperative Division of Labor among tens of millions of free acting individuals in society (billions in a global economy), all acting peacefully together, in voluntary cooperation, in pursuit of each of their own mutual, individual self-interests - which is the perfectly moral (rational) thing to do. No masters, no slaves. All individuals and businesses, all trading together, each benefiting from the economic freedom of all other individuals and businesses – from the limitless applications of individual and economic freedom, and exercise of individual rights, including property rights. The result being that of indirectly helping all other individuals and businesses in achieving their own, individual self-interests, while pursuing one’s own self-interests.

Question: how did the United States’ economy get from where it was over 200 years ago to where it is today in 2008?

Answer: As pointed out by Dr. George Reisman in his book, Capitalism, it was amazingly simple. It was due to the total effect of millions of individuals, from one generation to the next over time, of each person working in their own individual self-interest. Again, the result being that of indirectly helping all other individuals, and the businesses that followed, in achieving their own individual self-interests.

-- In reference to this, see the complete text of the essay “Capitalism and the Economic History of the United States,” by Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 1, “Economics and Capitalism,” Part B, “Capitalism,” Section 4, “Capitalism and the Economic History of the United States,” pp. 28-31, especially p. 29 (Jameson Books, 1998).

-- And for a full discussion about the Division of Labor and its relationship to Capitalism, refer to Dr. George Reisman’s book Capitalism, Part Two, “The Division of Labor and Capitalism,” pp. 123-500 (Jameson Books, 1998).

Statism and the DESTRUCTION of any Division of Labor replaced with Forced Labor.

Statism represents state (government or ruling group) regulated, mandated, and forced labor and the disbursement of labor. Reduced or no economic diversity. Restriction, or total elimination, of individual freedom, meaning the demise and destruction of economic freedom, meaning the destruction of economic progress, prosperity, expansion, and benefits to all individuals. Restriction and/or destruction of the economic process and ability of individuals everywhere to provide products and services to the greatest number possible of all other individuals and businesses. Destruction of the Division of Labor leads to “economic chaos” (Dr. George Reisman). Eventual devastation of the entire economic process ensues. Statism represents the impediment of serfdom and slavery.

For proof, observe the Dark Ages, the previous U.S.S.R. (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), including current day labor-controlled China, or worse, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe, or the conditions of any other second- or third-world country under the rule of some form of Statist regime or brutal dictatorship.

On the positive side, observe the amazing expansion and development of freedom-oriented Division of Labor economies in various Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan and Taiwan (even to some small extent, in China) – all due to the introduction of limited, yet influential, freedom of economics, a growing division of labor, and limited property rights – all attributes of Capitalism, of course. Of course.

The interruption and destruction of the Division of Labor is due to the attributes of Statism (whether socialism, nationalism, Marxism, communism, environmentalism, etc.) – from the lack of economic freedom, individual freedom, individual rights, and property rights.

-- For a full and complete discussion about the tyrannical and destructive forces and chaos of statism (socialism) on the Division of Labor, refer to Dr. George Reisman’s book Capitalism, Chapter 8, “The Dependence of the Division of Labor on Capitalism IV: Socialism, Economic Chaos, and Totalitarian Dictatorship,” pp. 268-295 (Jameson Books, 1998).

12. Wealth vs. Poverty

2008-10-12T16:12:00.013-04:00

This is my presentation and discussion of Wealth (the production of) under Capitalism and Freedom versus Poverty (the destruction of Wealth) under Statism and Force. The presentation of Wealth under Capitalism comes first, followed by the presentation of Poverty under Statism.

WEALTH (the Production of) UNDER CAPITALISM AND FREEDOM

“Wealth is material goods made by man.” -- As defined by Dr. George Reisman in his book Capitalism, p. 39. Reprinted with permission.

-- For a full and complete explanation of the essential importance and “role” of wealth in human life, refer to Dr. George Reisman’s book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 2, “Wealth and Its Role in Human Life,” pp. 39-62, (Jameson Books, 1998).

Important points to consider regarding Wealth:

- Wealth and Production are only possible under Capitalism and Freedom.

- Wealth and Progress are only possible Capitalism and Freedom.

- Wealth and Happiness are only possible under Capitalism and Freedom.

- Wealth as Good and Moral is only possible under Capitalism and Freedom.

- Wealth Admiration is encouraged under Capitalism and Freedom.

The question is NOT why there is so much wealth in the United States. The essential question to ask is: why is there so little poverty in the United States?

Answer: Wealth Production through Capitalism and Freedom. Up until the current time (2008), there has been so little poverty in the United States because of the relative high presence of individual and economic freedom, the practice and protection of individual rights, with still a relatively rational-orientation towards the protection of property rights (despite the increasing trend against), and also including the limitless desire for wealth (man-made material goods) production and accumulation – all this occurring under a relatively free and unobstructed capitalistic (free-market) political-social system.

Regarding the current state of affairs in the United States: it is important to point out that in the United States, essentially since the end of the 1920’s, there has been a continual decline in personal freedom and economic stability all due, I think, to (1) the increasing growth and expansion of statist governmental agenda, policies, taxation, welfare and subsidy programs, departments, and agencies, (2) continual and increasing violation and control of individual rights and property rights through political, legislative and judicial processes, (3) regulation and control of banking and financial institutions, activities and monies, governmental expansion of fiat monies and credit, (4) continual taxation, fee, and fine increases at all levels of government, and (5) the continual and increasing intervention, manipulation, regulation, mandates, and control of our free-market economy, including any and all commerce and business.

As we see Statism, and statist policies and programs, grow and expand in the United States, so shall we see poverty grow and spread in the United States. Statism and poverty go hand in hand, and grow together.

Capitalism leads to and establishes economic stability.

Capitalism can only provide the social-political system where wealth production is possible.

Capitalism diminishes and eliminates poverty.

It is the social-political systems of Statism (in any and all of its forms), including coercive government force, control of the economy, and institutionalized-collective citizenry enslavement that causes economic chaos, discouraging and destroying commerce and business, eventually establishing an environment that discourages and destroys any motivation towards wealth production and accumulation, leading to the actual destruction of all wealth. Therefore, poverty and misery increase and spread throughout society and the economy, and negatively affecting, consuming, and destroying all prosperity for people and businesses.

It is the social-political-economic system of Capitalism, including individual and economic freedom, and the encouraged use of reason in everyday life (in both personal and business matters), that establishes an environment that encourages and motivates individuals towards wealth production and accumulation, thus leading to an increasing and limitless production of wealth throughout the entire economy and society. Therefore, reducing and eventually eliminating poverty throughout society and the economy, while increasing the standard of living and prosperity for all people and businesses.

As Dr. George Reisman writes, ”…There is no fixed limit to the process by which the increasing production of wealth can further enhance and extend human life and its enjoyment.”

--- Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 2, “Wealth and Its Role in Human Life,” Part 6, “Scarcity and the Transformation of Its Nature Under capitalism,” p. 55 (Jameson Books, 1998). Reprinted with permission.

POVERTY (the Destruction of Wealth) UNDER STATISM AND FORCE

-- For a full discussion and complete explanation of the destructive forces, chaos, and tyranny of socialism is any of its forms (Statism), refer to Dr. George Reisman’s book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 8, “The Dependence of the Division of Labor on Capitalism IV: Socialism, Economic Chaos, and Totalitarian Dictatorship,” pp. 267-295, (Jameson Books, 1998).

Important points to consider regarding Poverty:

- Poverty and Destruction is guaranteed under Statism and Force.

- Poverty and Economic Stagnation is guaranteed under Statism and Force.

- Poverty and Misery is guaranteed under Statism and Force.

- Wealth as Evil and Immoral is guaranteed under Statism and Force.

- Wealth Envy is guaranteed under Statism and Force.

The question is NOT why there is so much poverty in third world countries. The essential question to ask is: why is there so little wealth among the general population in the third world and poorest countries of the world, such as in North Korea or Zimbabwe?

Answer: Wealth Destruction by Statism and Force. There so little wealth (man-made material goods) in the third world and poorest countries because of statist (governmental or ruling group) policies, agenda, force, chaos, and tyranny against the individual and property rights, where there is little or no individual freedom and/or economic freedom, and constant violation and infringement of individual rights, including property rights -- where the concepts of individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms have yet to be discovered -- where little or no property rights exist -- where there is governmental manipulation, regulation, and control of the country’s economy -- where there is governmental redistribution and destruction of any earned and created wealth, income, and profit -- where there is no motivation for wealth production and accumulation because it will be destroyed, confiscated, and stolen through taxation and corrupt government activities, legislation, and policies, or just through brut governmental physical force.

Statism leads to, and causes, economic chaos.

Statism destroys wealth production.

Statism causes and leads to poverty.

For example, witness the current state of affairs in countries such as Mexico, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Zimbabwe (and other African countries), and present day Venezuela. Also observe the original U.S.S.R. and original Communist Eastern European countries, and the old, pre-semi-free-market Communist China.

Observe how present day China (though still a communist dictatorship), and many other Asian countries such as Japan-Taiwan-South Korea, have reduced poverty levels significantly since the introduction of free-market economics and business freedom, including the introduction and increased recognition and protection of more individual freedom and individual rights, and the introduction and increased recognition and protection of property rights.

It is the social-political-economic system of Capitalism, including the use of reason, and the application of individual and economic freedom, that establishes an environment that encourages and motivates individuals towards wealth production and accumulation, thus leading to an increasing and limitless production of wealth throughout the economy and country. Therefore, reducing and eventually eliminating poverty throughout the economy and society, while increasing prosperity for all people and business.

It is the social-political systems of Statism (in any and all of its forms), including coercive government force, control of the economy, and institutionalized-collective citizenry enslavement, that causes economic chaos, discouraging and destroying commerce and business, eventually establishing an environment that discourages and destroys any motivation towards wealth production and accumulation, leading to the actual destruction of all wealth. Therefore, poverty and misery increase and spread throughout society and the economy, and negatively affecting, consuming, and destroying all prosperity for people and businesses.

An observation: as we see Statism, and statist policies and programs, grow and expand in the United States, so shall we see poverty grow and spread in the United States.

Statism (collectivism, socialism, communism, Marxism, environmentalism) and poverty go hand in hand.

13. Profit Motive vs. Profit Destruction

2008-10-12T16:11:00.005-04:00

This posting is to point out the immense, positive importance of the Profit Motive and Freedom of Competition to a prosperous, healthy capitalistic society and economy, and to compare that to the hideous, negative effects of Profit Destruction and State Controlled Economy that form an impoverished, miserable statist (socialistic) society and economy (if it exist at all). The Profit Motive and Freedom of Competition are presented first, followed by Profit Destruction and State Controlled Economy.

Profit Motive and Freedom of Competition

I begin with a quote from Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics by Dr. George Reisman, reprinted with permission:

“The dependence of the division of labor on the price system points the way to its indirect dependence on the institution of private ownership of the means of production. The price system rests on the profit motive and the freedom of competition. Operating in conjunction with one another, these are the elements that drive and regulate the price system – that determine the formation of all individual prices and their integration into a system. The profit motive and the freedom of competition, in turn, vitally depend on the institution of private ownership of the means of production. … It is necessary to explain here the nature of both of these sets of dependencies: that of the price system on the profit motive and the freedom of competition and, in turn, that of the profit motive and the freedom of competition on the private ownership of the means of production. … The profit motive – financial self-interest - makes everyone be concerned with the revenue or income he earns and the costs or expenses he incurs. As stated, precisely this is what harmonizes and integrates the economic plans and the economic activities of all the separate businesses and individuals who make up a division-of-labor society.”

--- Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism, Part Two, “The Division of Labor and Capitalism,” Chapter 5, “The Dependence of the Division of Labor on Capitalism I,” Part A, “The Nature of the Dependencies,” pp. 137-138 (Jameson Books, 1998.)

Both of these concepts - “profit motive” and “freedom of competition” - encourage and promote the competition of rational and moral business principles, practices, long-range planning, judgment, and decision making – all of which ultimately benefit and enhance the well-being of the entire economic system, from producers to consumers, from businesses to the individual citizen. Both “profit motive” and “freedom of competition” help keep an entire economic system stable, balanced, harmonious, productive, and prosperous. Under Capitalism, unrestricted and unregulated economic competition is oriented towards providing the best product and service for the best competitive price and cost to fulfill the millions, even billions, of demands and needs in an economic system.

Again, a brilliant assessment by Dr. George Reisman:

“[A] major institutional feature of capitalism: the harmony of the rational self-interests of all men, in which the success of each promotes the well-being of all.”

--- Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 1, “Economics and Capitalism,” Part B, “Capitalism,” p. 28 (Jameson Books, 1998). Reprinted with permission.

Only in a society of Laissez-faire Capitalism can economic stability and growth, along with social harmony and peace, exist, because under Capitalism (1) individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and all derivative freedoms are recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government limited to its proper functions (see Items Nos. 2 and 8 above), (2) the economy and all commerce is completely unrestricted and unregulated, and (3) coercive government force, including any kind of government sanctioned private force, is prohibited in a true capitalistic society.

Capitalism represents, encourages, and promotes (1) the Pursuit, Production, Accumulation, and Rational Use of Profit (The Profit Motive), (2) the Pursuit, Production, Accumulation, and Rational Use of Wealth, and (3) the unobstructed Freedom of Economic Competition (completely unrestricted and unregulated) as GOOD and Beneficial for life and society.

The Profit Motive and the Freedom of Competition make possible a prosperous life and society. That is the nature of Capitalism.

Profit Destruction and State Controlled Economy

(1) Statism discourages and destroys any rational, good, and moral motives for profit and/or wealth pursuits, production, accumulation, and use.
(2) Statism also regulates and controls competition in the economy (no true economic freedom).

These two events encourage and promote irrational, dishonest, immoral, corrupt despicable business practices - and discourage sound, rational (moral) principles, sound long-range economic planning, and rational judgment and decision making. These two events encourage short-range business thinking and planning, and the practice of Pragmatism. This ultimately endangers and destroys the well-being of the entire economic system, from producers to consumers, from businesses to the individual citizen. Under Statism and/or statist-oriented political policy, economic competition is oriented away from providing the best product and service for the best competitive price and cost to fulfill the demands in an economic system, to becoming oriented towards government and political interference, manipulation, favoritism, and special interests in the economic system, and the competition for government business subsidies and welfare.

Statism, in any and all of its forms, destroys the profit motive and the freedom of competition.

Statism, in any and all of its forms, destroys the rational self-interests of all men and businesses.

Statism, in any and all of its forms, destroys the well-being of all men and businesses.

Statism represents, encourages, and promotes Self-Sacrifice, Redistribution of Wealth, and Fairness as the good in life and society, and portrays the Pursuits of Profit, Wealth, and Economic Competition as EVIL and Burdensome for life and society.

In the end, the Destruction of Profit and Economic Competition only destroys life and society. That is the nature of Statism.

14. Self-Interests Under Capitalism vs. Statism

2008-10-12T16:10:00.008-04:00

In this discussion, I present the points of how Capitalism encourages and promotes Individual Rational Self-Interests and its effects on individuals and businesses, versus how Statism encourages and promotes Irrational Self-Interests, along with what I call destructive, collective societal-public-political interests, and its effects on individuals and businesses.

Individual rational self-interests under Capitalism.

Capitalism encourages and promotes those individual rational self-interests, decisions, and actions, including all economic and commerce applications, practices, and activities, that do not violate or infringe upon individual and economic freedom, individuals rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms.

Also, Capitalism encourages and promotes those individual rational self-interests, decisions, practices, and actions that help build and establish a self-reliant, self-responsible, productive life, for both individuals and businesses alike. In the world of unrestricted, unregulated free-market competition, I think that rational self-interests WIN OUT OVER irrational self-interests, because the rational ideas, decisions, and actions by both individuals and businesses lead to the positive, beneficial, and productive results that we all witness in life, society, and business (economics) every day – as opposed to the result of irrational ideas, decisions, and actions.

Simply witness the amazing economic progress and improvement of peoples’ lives that occurred throughout the United States during both the 18th and 19th centuries, and even through the 20th century up to present day despite the constant and relentless interference and intervention by statist-oriented elements from our own government (see Item No. 30 below). All this wonderful and amazing economic progress and prosperity that we enjoy so much in our lives and take for granted, without a second thought, did not materialized out of thin air or in a magic puff of smoke! Nor did it occur do to the government!

It occurred because millions of independent, individuals and businesses were, and still are, all each pursuing their own self-interests, under individual and economic freedom, dealing with each other in a peaceful, voluntary, cooperative manner, within a “division of labor” society – all unhampered at first by an intrusive, interfering, interventionist government (Statism), and despite the growing government interference. It would be even more so if our lives and businesses, along with our individual and economic freedom, were untouched, unregulated, and unshackled by our current growing statist-oriented government.

It is the effects of Statism that forces the irrational into our lives, society, and the economy, where the rational is not allowed to compete due to government force, regulation, and control. For example, simply observe our current (2008) national financial crisis due to statist-oriented government meddling, mandating, control, and manipulation of our banking and financing private sector, creating a situation that allowed – even mandated (forced) - the practice of irrational (and therefore, irresponsible) economic decisions and actions by both individual citizens and businesses. Rational (responsible) economic decisions and actions were pushed aside because of statist-oriented government forced policies and practices.

In short, the desire and practice of rational self-interests, for both individuals and businesses, in the pursuit of personal and economic improvement, progress, and prosperity are extremely curtailed – and even eliminated – under Statism and its influence on the individual’s life, on society, and on economics. It is only Capitalism that can provide a system were the rational self-interests of all individuals and businesses can exist and flourish without any government interference, control, or force.

As a side issue, special-interest groups and/or lobbyist-type groups would not – and could not - exist under true, laissez-faire Capitalism. There would be no need for such groups, as such groups could not use the government to implement and expand their social-engineering ideas, agendas, and desires. The functions of a proper capitalistic, constitutionally-limited government do not include any type of welfare programs or projects, and therefore, any type of subsidy programs for individuals, groups, and/or businesses.

Also, under true laissez-faire Capitalism there is no compulsory taxation, and what money and funds that are raised for the financing of essential government functions would strictly be applied towards such essential functions, meaning the protection of individual and economic freedom and rights – as the government would be prohibited from interfering, regulating, or controlling individual and economic freedom - so there is no corrupt competition for governmental monies or funds for such special-interest groups and/or lobbyist groups, or for any welfare or social programs and/or projects, including all government business subsidies, favors, and market manipulations.

As per the discussion above, and per Item No. 11 above, in regards to the relationship between the pursuits of individual self-interests and that of a peaceful, free-associating, voluntarily cooperative division of labor among all men, Adam Smith had this to say in his book The Wealth of Nations (published March 8, 1776):

”…But man has almost constant occasion for the help of his brethren, and it is in vain for him to expect it from their benevolence only. He will be more likely to prevail if he can interest their self-love in his favour, and shew them that it is for their own advantage to do for him what he requires of them. Whoever offers to another a bargain of any kind, proposes to do this. Give me that which I want, and you shall have this which you want, is the meaning of every such offer; and it is in this manner that we obtain from one another the far greater part of those good offices which we stand in need of. It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interests. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages. Nobody but a beggar chuses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens. Even a beggar does not depend upon it entirely. The charity of well-disposed people, indeed, supplies him with the whole fund of his subsistence. But though this principle ultimately provides him with all the necessaries of life which he has occasion for, it neither does nor can provide him with them as he has occasion for them. The greater part of his occasional wants are supplied in the same manner as those of other people, by treaty, by barter, by purchase. …As it is by treaty, by barter, and by purchase, that we obtain from one another the greater part of those mutual good offices which we stand in need of, so it is this same trucking disposition which originally gives occasion to the division of labour.” [All spellings from original text.]

-- Visit the on-line Library of Economics and Liberty for the full text of The Wealth of Nations.

-- For a insightful introduction about the relationship between rational self-interests and economics, I refer you to Dr. George Reisman’s book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 1, “Economics and Capitalism,” Part B, “Capitalism,” both Section 3, “Capitalism and the Origin of Economic Institutions,” and Section 4, “Capitalism and the Economic History of the United States,” pp. 27-31 (Jameson Books, 1998).-- Also, for an extended discussion about the essential role of rational self-interest in man’s life, see Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, (Signet).

-- Also, for an extended discussion about the essential role of rational self-interest in man’s life, see Ayn Rand’s book The Virtue of Selfishness, (Signet).

Also, see an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings regarding self-interests at -
Self-Interest at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Selfishness at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Self-Esteem at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/
Self at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/

Irrational self-interests, along with destructive, collective societal-public-political interests, under Statism.

Statism encourages and promotes those irrational self-interests, decisions, and actions – in conjunction with destructive, collective societal-public-political interests forced by the government – that do violate and infringe upon the individual and economic freedom of any and all individuals and businesses. Statism encourages and promotes those irrational self-interests that show no recognition of, no regard for, no respect for, and no protection of the freedom and rights of individuals and businesses.

Statism also encourages, promotes, and forces: DUTY (see Emmanuel Kant), meaning that the individual must sacrifice and give himself/herself – meaning their life, their work, and their freedom – totally and completely to the preservation and maintenance of the state, meaning the nation, the government, the society, the community, the ruling group, the religion, the national culture, the environment, “mother” earth or nature, the mob, etc. In this vain, Statism also encourages one to “feel” guilty (Statism encourages guilt) for pursuing one’s own rational self-interests, in both individual and business matters. Self-sacrifice by and of the individual (altruism) is the necessary and required practice to ensure the preservation and survival of Statism.

In order for Statism to function and exist, a statist government (or ruling group) must deceptively persuade and then ultimately force the citizenry, including business, to accept the idea that an individual’s life and work belongs to the state, and that the citizen’s (the individual’s) and the business’ duty is solely to the state (government or ruling group) and its benefit - to sacrifice themselves, their lives, their work, and their freedom to the function, preservation, and survival of that statist system and its government, meaning the statist government’s total political structure - its politicians, its officials, its directors, its employees, its policies, programs, projects, departments, agencies, divisions, etc. (whether they are needed or not), including all the crony capitalists, their businesses, and associated practices that come into existence due to the interference, manipulation, restriction, regulation, mandating, and control of the economy by the statist-oriented government.

Statism encourages and promotes those irrational, self-serving social-political ideas, agenda, policies, programs, projects, and interests - both of individual and/or of group orientation - that violate, control, and destroy individual and economic freedom and choice, and that also violate, control, and destroy individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, and do so because such irrational, self-serving social-political ideas, agenda, policies, programs, projects, and interests usually end up having to be implemented through government force and control over the citizenry and economy.

Statism encourages and promotes irrational, destructive, collective, and forceful societal-public-political interests that are both dependent and parasitic upon all individuals and businesses of a society, either through some form of taxation, regulation, and control.

For Example: all governmental schools and educational programs, and any flavor of other welfare programs, including all types of socialized medicine or national health care programs, or business and farm subsidies, are – by their very fundamental natures – those type of special “interests” for certain groups that are implemented by force (through regulation, mandate, legislation, and law) at the expense (control of choice and free action) and enslavement (taxation) of a country’s citizenry. Such government programs are not productive but consumptive, and they encourage rapid growth and expansion of the “status-quo” government policies, programs, projects, and institutions to continue to support, justify, and preserve themselves and their existence, and therefore, are completely dependent upon taxation, therefore requiring a continually increasing taxation system – which in turn requires government force (tyranny) to keep them implemented. But this is standard operating procedure under Statism and for Statists, as such actions and practices are rationalized as necessary for the “public good,” since the individual’s life is viewed as belonging to the state (government or ruling group) in the first place.

The very survival and self-preservation of statist governmental institutions, policies, agendas, projects, and programs, including all government welfare and subsidies, requires the enslavement and control of a nation’s citizenry and its economy. There is no other way to implement and achieve a statist (socialist) system.

To continue, statist-oriented government programs and projects are consumptive, dependent, and parasitic and feed off the productiveness of all individual citizens and businesses, throughout a society and economy. They are parasitic because with such government programs and projects, their very self-preservation and survival becomes the final sole purpose and focus for their continued existence, with most of the energy and funds of such a program or project going towards that very self-preservation and survival – at the expense of the program’s original purpose and goals, and broadening to the expense of the taxed slave-citizen and demise of the economy.

Two Examples:

(1) One can witness such a scenario occurring today within the U.S. Government Public School System: the continued existence, self-preservation, and survival of the Teachers Union has become the sole purpose and focus of continuing and expanding government “public” education and schools at the expense of the students, actual teachers, and quality of education (as they become unimportant), including the expense and destruction of citizenry and business productiveness, wealth, profits, prosperity, and property in the form of ever increasing and all consuming taxation and fees, just to justify the survival of the Teachers Union. This is a perfect example of irrational, destructive, collective societal-public-political interests taking over.

(2) The same can also be said of certain parts of the U.S. Agricultural Industry, as many important farming businesses have become so completely dependent on government business welfare in the form of subsidies, and/or on government regulations, mandates, programs, and intervention, that the existence, preservation, and survival of such government subsidies and interference becomes the sole purpose and focus – at all costs - for these farming businesses just to simply function, stay competitive, and survive, all at the expense of customer service, production, and product quality (as they become unimportant). A good example of this is the current government subsidizing, mandating, and forcing of the ethanol and bio-fuel industry into existence – despite the fact that there was no real market for bio-fuels - thus creating unrealistic economic expectations and demands for certain farm crops just to provide base material for this new government subsidized and forced industry, to the point where certain farmers are now so dependent on both government subsidies and this government forced industry, that even if there is no market for such bio-fuel products, the continued existence, preservation, and survival of such a government forced industry becomes the sole purpose and focus – at all costs - for these farmers, at the expense of production and quality of product (as they become secondary) – let alone the fact that billions of dollars and resources are recklessly diverted away from the true productive demands in the economy).

Under Statism, so-called “group rights” (such as gay rights, teacher’s rights, women’s rights, unions’ rights, etc.) and so-called “human rights” (which are not really rights at all, but are pursuits of values, such as food, shelter, jobs, education) take precedence and importance over individual freedom and individual rights. Therefore, under Statism, “group interests” and “pursuits of values” are encouraged over individual self-interests, with groups turning to use government force to regulate, control, and violate individuals and businesses at the expense of destroying individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms – to satisfy the desires, needs, and demands of groups and personal pursuits of values.

But, as Ayn Rand has pointed out, there is no such thing as “group rights;” there can only exist the rights of the individual. Statism, by its very fundamentals, destroys the concepts of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, and property rights. If a man has no freedom or right to his own life, work, and production - if he is nothing more than a slave to the state - then he has no other rights, no property rights, and certainly no derivative freedoms. And his pursuits of rational self-interests are certainly discouraged under Statism.

15. The Rule of Law vs. The Rule of Man

2008-10-12T16:09:00.005-04:00

This discussion represents my interpretation and comments regarding Capitalism and the objective rule of law versus Statism and the arbitrary rule of man. The discussion of the objective rule of law comes first, followed by the discussion of the arbitrary rule of man.

Regarding the Objective Rule of Law and Capitalism.

From Wikipedia: the rule of law, in its most basic form, is the principle that no one is above the law. Thomas Paine stated in his pamphlet Common Sense (1776): "For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other."

Under Capitalism, the Objective Rule of Law represents the judicial and legal process of, establishment of, application of, and enforcement of proper, rational, objective rules and laws – applied through a properly formed court system - that rationally and objectively recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, as well as all unregulated free-market commerce and business activity, including such responsibilities as enforcing contractual agreements, etc.

In a free society (Capitalism), the Court System is established and oriented towards proper, objective, and rational application of justice, and towards the enforcement and application of proper, objective, rational rules and laws - where no individual or business is above the objective rules and laws that are established to recognized and protect the freedom and rights of all individuals and businesses. Again, in a free society, the proper responsibilities of the courts are established and oriented towards the PROPER, RATIONAL, and OBJECTIVE recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms (such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion and the freedom from religion, the freedom of the individual to keep and bear arms, etc.).

Also, in regards to the functions of a proper justice system (courts) under Capitalism, there would be the application, recognition, preservation, and protection of the proper, objective hierarchy between fundamental individual rights, including property rights, and the derivative freedoms.

Reference Items Nos. 5-8 above.

Regarding Statism and the Arbitrary Rule of Man. Mob and/or Gang Rule. Non-objective, irrational, arbitrary law.

Statism represents the establishment and enforcement of irrational, subjective (non-objective), and arbitrary rules and laws (if they exist at all) that are oriented towards the violation and infringement upon – in any manner and for any reason whatsoever – individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, and any and all commerce and business, as the statist rules and laws are established and oriented towards the preservation of, including the continued control and tyranny of, the statist government (or ruling group, as in some Theocracies). Basically, laws and rules established in a statist system are oriented towards thuggery and gang rule.

Under any type of Religious Statism, courts are generally established and oriented towards mob and/or gang rule – from monarchies and dictatorships to tribal communes and religious groups - with irrational, subjective (non-objective), arbitrary rules and laws to preserved such power and control. Under Statism, courts are established and oriented towards maintaining and preserving state and/or religious control. In Theocratic (religious) Statism, courts are usually oriented around religious law (such as Sharia law under Islamic religious rule).

Reference Items Nos. 5-8 above.

16. Economic Expansion vs. Imperialism

2008-10-12T16:08:00.004-04:00

This is my interpretation, discussion, and commentary regarding Economic Expansion only through Capitalism versus Imperialism only through Statism. My discussion regarding Economic Expansion comes first, followed by my discussion regarding Imperialism.

Peace and Economic Expansion only through peaceful, voluntary, mutual free-market trade and association.

Economic Expansion refers to the free-market process of unrestricted, unregulated economic progress and expansion through the applications of individual and economic freedom, meaning through peaceful, mutual, voluntary cooperation and agreement (or not) between free-acting individuals, organizations, businesses, and nations. There are NO coercive governmental, political, or military policies, interference, restrictions, or actions involved in true economic expansion in a free society or between free nations – only those proper governmental, political, or military policies or actions necessary to recognize, preserve, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of any and all individuals, organizations, and/or businesses, and to defend against the initiation of physical force, including fraud, by domestic criminals, including defending against any aggressive political and/or military manipulation and invasion by other foreign nations and/or groups.

In a Capitalist nation (meaning a nation of complete individual and economic freedom, protected by a proper, representational constitutionally-limited government), there is no state (government or ruling group) intervention, regulation, or control in trade or commerce. There is only voluntary and peaceful cooperation and agreement (or not) between private individuals, organizations, and/or businesses, without government intervention, force, regulation, or control.

The constitutionally-limited government of a true capitalistic nation is prohibited from expanding its political and military influence through Imperialism, meaning through invasion, plunder, or war, or through any other forceful means – prohibited by a proper, objectively established constitutional document that describes and limits the proper functions of the capitalist government. True capitalistic nations recognize and respect each others’ sovereignty, including individual and economic freedoms, individual rights, and property rights. And corrupt businessmen (crony capitalists) cannot pander to, manipulate, get favors from, or use the capitalist government to engage in force, of any kind, to control and manipulate economic activities and competition, nor use the capitalist government to engage in any form of Imperialism against other nations, for theirs, or anyone else’s, personal or economic benefit.

A true capitalist nation does not initiate war, nor does it need to engage in Imperialism. Capitalism, as a social-political-economic system, presents peaceful, mutual, voluntary cooperation and agreement (or not) between individuals and/or businesses, as well as between other free, capitalist countries and/or territories.

Only Capitalist nations engage in Economic Expansion through peaceful, mutual, voluntary cooperation and agreement (or not) amongst free individuals and free-market commerce.

-- For a complete, thorough discussion and defense of Capitalism, peace and free-trade, please see Andrew Bernstein’s book The Capitalist Manifesto, and Ayn Rand’s book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

War and Imperialism only under Statism.

Imperialism refers to the statist policies, procedures, practices, and actions (both political and military) of advancing and extending the domination, power, and control of a statist nation through coercive, tyrannical political and military territorial aggression, invasion, war, acquisition, occupation, plunder, and domination – direct or indirect – of other nations, countries, or territories.

A Statist nation (meaning a nation of government force and control of its citizenry and economy) can only survive by eventually expanding its political, economic, military, cultural, and/or religious system beyond its own boundaries (due to its own eventual internal economic and social chaos and collapse), by engaging in coercive political and military aggression, invasion, occupation, plunder, and domination – meaning through WAR and TYRANNY – to conquer, enslave, and spread its political, cultural, and economic control over other nations and/or territories – meaning through IMPERIALISM.

Only a statist nation needs to, and will initiate, War and engage in Imperialism to expand its rule and control, and for its mere preservation and survival.

-- For a complete, thorough discussion regarding Statism and war, imperialism, and slavery, please see Andrew Bernstein’s book The Capitalist Manifesto, Part 3: “Polemics.”

Modern-day Examples of Imperialism:

The invasion and occupation of Tibet by China, and the recent invasion and occupation into the country of Georgia by present day Russia are perfect examples of Imperialism. Only statist-oriented nations – from the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Empires to modern-day military despot nations – engage in Imperialism.

Only Statist nations engage in Imperialism.

17. Flow of Information - Free vs. Censored

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Uncensored flow of information in Capitalism.

Capitalism represents complete freedom of communications and publications - completely unrestricted, unregulated, uncensored. No government intervention, control, regulation, or interference. No establishment of state (government) regulatory or enforcement departments, agencies, or divisions allowed in a true capitalist social-political system. No F.C.C. and No government-based, public radio or television stations.

Capitalism represents the Unrestricted Pursuit of, and Competition for, the Truth.

State enforced Censorship in Statism.

Statism represents state (government or ruling group) intervention, restriction, regulation, interference, and control of most and/or all communications and publications. Courts and police are manipulated and used by the state - and encouraged by both government and certain private sector interest groups who benefit from a Statist system - to control, in any manner possible, the communication, broadcasting, publishing, and flow of information in any form.

Statism represents state (government) controlled and restricted Search for the Truth – or not allowed at all.

18. Self-Reliance vs. Dependency

2008-10-12T16:06:00.002-04:00

Some comparisons between Capitalism vs. Statism.

Capitalism represents:

Individual Freedom and self-reliance.

Economic Freedom and Economic Stability.

VERSUS -

Statism represents:

Mass (collective) Slavery and forced dependency.

Political Control and Economic Chaos.

19. Economic Power vs. Political Power

2008-10-12T16:05:00.002-04:00

CAPITALISM AND ECONOMIC POWER

In my own interpretation of Ayn Rand’s writings on this subject, economic power focuses on the freedom and ability to produce goods and services, and then engage in commerce and to “trade” those goods and services that one has produced, in a voluntary association (free of coercion) of production and trade between individuals and businesses (businessmen). Economic power is the opposite of political power.

Economic power focuses on offering values, rewards, free choice, prosperity, and happiness – it focuses on the "positive" in social and economic interactions. Political power focuses on offering fear, punishments, force, destruction, and misery – it focuses on the "negative" in social and economic interactions.

See an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings regarding Economic Power at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line, in the section titled Economic Power vs. Political Power.

Also, see Ayn Rand’s book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 3, “America’s Persecuted Minority: Big Business,” pb pp. 44-62 (Signet, ~1980), for full text.

Capitalism and Economic Power focuses on the production of wealth through voluntary cooperation.

VERSUS -

STATISM AND POLITICAL POWER

In my own interpretation of Ayn Rand’s writings on this subject, political power focuses on government restriction, regulation, manipulation, and control of both the individual’s life and the economy – it encourages and promotes unproductive, coercive, and corrupt involuntary associations between individuals, organizations, and businesses. Political power is the opposite of economic power.

Political power focuses on offering fear, punishments, force, destruction, and misery – it focuses on the "negative" in social and economic interactions. Economic power focuses on offering values, rewards, free choice, prosperity, and happiness – it focuses on the "positive" in social and economic interactions.

See an edited introduction to Ayn Rand’s writings regarding Political Power at the Ayn Rand Lexicon on-line, in the section titled Economic Power vs. Political Power.

Also, see Ayn Rand’s book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Chapter 3, “America’s Persecuted Minority: Big Business,” pb pp. 44-62 (Signet, ~1980), for full text.

Statism and Political Power focuses on taxation and the redistribution of wealth through coercive government force.

20. Productive vs. Destructive Activities

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Capitalism represents -

Productive, purposeful, beneficial activities among a peaceful, free-associating, voluntarily cooperative citizenry, with all individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government - with no interference, intervention, regulation, or control by the government.

Statism represents -

Destructive, criminal, looting, corrupt activities encouraged, endorsed, and perpetrated by the state (government or ruling group) along with all associative corrupt private business cronies, special interest groups, and corrupt unions, among other statist-established entities that benefit from government regulation, government control, and government force.

21. A True Economy vs. A False Economy

2008-10-12T16:03:00.008-04:00

This is my interpretation and discussion regarding how Laissez-faire Capitalism fosters, encourages, and promotes the establishment of a true, realistic economy VERSUS how Statism fosters, encourages, and promotes a false, unrealistic economy. My discussion regarding a True Economy comes first, followed by my discussion regarding a False Economy.

A TRUE, REALISTIC ECONOMY under LAISSEZ-FAIRE CAPITALISM

Laissez-faire Capitalism represents a social-political-economic system oriented around and based upon a laissez-faire, unrestricted, and unregulated free-trade, division of labor, realistic supply and demand, wealth production oriented economy, where all commerce, business, banking, and financial production, practices, procedures, activities, and decisions occur and are based upon complete individual and economic freedom of all individuals and businesses, where it is in the best interests of all individuals and businesses to interact and associate together (or not) in a peaceful, rational, voluntary (free of coercion), cooperative manner with each other, while also recognizing and respecting the individual and economic freedom of all individuals and/or businesses, including the individual rights and property rights of each other, and including how businesses, corporations, and organizations independently choose and decide to operate, apply, market, and run their own establishments and businesses, and all related personal and economic practices, procedures, and activities.

All this can only occur under Laissez-faire Capitalism, the social-political-economic system that establishes a proper, constitutionally-limited government whose only purpose and function is the recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all individuals and businesses.

The entire economy under Capitalism is created, established, and maintained through the unrestricted, unregulated, peaceful, voluntary, cooperative economic intercourse between all individuals and businesses under complete individual and economic freedom. All products and all services of the entire capitalist economy evolve, develop, are produced, and are provided based on a completely unrestricted, unregulated, uncontrolled free economy, oriented towards open free-trade, unrestricted-unregulated division of labor, unrestricted-unregulated supply and demand, and unrestricted, limitless wealth production and profit production. Laissez-faire Capitalism (economic freedom) encourages and promotes the careful, purposeful, and responsible directing of money, financing, and resources towards the true productive demands in the economy – based upon a realistic and “true” supply and demand economy.

For lack of a better phrase, I refer to this type of economy, an economy under Laissez-faire Capitalism, as a True, Realistic Economy -- NOT the “false” economy established, manipulated, controlled, and destroyed by Statism (collectivism, socialism, communism, Marxism, environmentalism, etc.).

Capitalism represents a social-political-economic system where the economy (meaning all things associated with commerce, trade, business, financing, and banking) develops and revolves around Economic Power (see Item No. 19 above), meaning the application of individual and economic freedom. Capitalism represents an economy of long-range thinking and planning, investing and expansion.

To repeat, from Item No. 19: Economic power focuses on offering values, rewards, free choice, prosperity, and happiness – it focuses on the positive in social and economic interactions.

Under Capitalism, all commerce -- meaning all economic and business procedures, policies, practices, and activities, including all related to banking and financing -- are private, and completely unrestricted and unregulated. Free-markets, meaning free-acting individuals and businesses, are then free and able to respond and act accordingly (independently, privately, and voluntarily), without the threat of government interference or intervention, acting towards changes and activities in the economic system as needed and necessary.

Capitalism and Freedom establish the well-know “win-win” interchange of values between all individuals and businesses, in both personal and economic exchanges, activities, and pursuits. This is also known as the “double thank you” exchange that exists between buyer and producer/seller in a capitalist society, where both producer/seller and buyer of a product or service say “thank you” to each other – meaning that the producer/seller “thanks” the buyer for doing business with him or her, and the buyer “thanks” the producer/seller for providing the product or service. Everyone wins, and no one loses.

The “win-win” interchange can also be viewed as the “value for value” exchange (Ayn Rand), and is also known more popularly as the trader principle.

A FALSE, UNREALISTIC ECONOMY under STATISM

Statism represents a government restricted, regulated, mandated, taxed, controlled, and manipulated economy, an economy based upon the threat and fear of the initiation of physical force by the government against all individuals and businesses, against all economic (commerce) production, interactions, practices, procedures, and activities, thus creating, establishing, and maintaining a government manipulated, unreliable, regulated, chaotic, impoverished economy. Statism DOES NOT represent an economy based upon true individual and economic freedom, NOT an economy based upon “open, free, unrestricted, unregulated, peaceful, voluntary (free of coercion), cooperative” commerce, trade, business, financing, and banking. Statism represents an economy (if it exists at all) based upon, and strangled by, government interference, manipulation, coercion, and control.

Statism represents a forced-controlled economy where individuals, organizations, and businesses CANNOT make decisions or take actions based on their own best interests. The economy develops and evolves around complying with, avoiding, and/or seeking favors from the government, and those people in political control and in political power.

Statism represents an economy based upon government interference, manipulation, regulation, control, force, coercion, and tyranny against all individuals and businesses, and their actions and activities.

For lack of a better phrase, I refer to this type of economy as a False, Unrealistic Economy – an economy established, manipulated, regulated, limited, controlled, and destroyed by Statism (collectivism, socialism, communism, Marxism, environmentalism, etc.).

Statism represents a social-political system where the economy (meaning all things associated with commerce, trade, business, financing, and banking) develops and revolves around Political Power (see Item No. 19 above), and political plans (short-ranged), policies, goals, agenda, decisions, and activities based upon:
(1) government regulation, legislation, mandates, taxation, controls, manipulation, and interference of the economy, thus recklessly diverting money, financing, and resources away from the true productive demands in the economy – creating an unrealistic and “false” supply and demand economy (if an economy even exists – as there is essentially non-existent economies in some extreme statist countries, such as in Cuba),
(2) government control and regulation of all banking, savings, financing, and investing,
(3) government favoritism and funding (from taxation) provided to “certain selected and favored” individuals and business,
(4) the use of government force (in the form of taxation, fees, fines, property confiscation, political intimidation and manipulation, threat of governmental force, corruption), or the existence and use of private force sanctioned by the government (see Item No. 3 above),
(5) government favored, supported, and sponsored unions and other organizations,
(6) government established and/or enforced coercive private business monopolies where no competition is allowed to exist by the same government against such monopoly, or the competition is heavily controlled by the government,
(7) government corporate and business welfare in the form of subsidies (such as farm subsidies) to “certain selected and favored” industries and businesses, including special “tax incentives” to attract and/or support “certain selected and favored” businesses, with “certain” expectations from the government, and politicians, of how business is exercised in return,
(8) the increasing influence of government lobbyists and special interest groups used to gain access to government favoritism, power, control, and force to both influence and manipulate the competition in the market place, and to gain access to government funds (taxes), and
(9) government regulated, controlled, and manipulated stock market system.

To repeat, from Item No. 19: Political power focuses on offering fear, punishments, force, destruction, and misery – it focuses on the negative in social and economic interactions.

Only Statism (in any and all of its forms) and Force can destroy the “win-win” exchange of values between all individuals and businesses, in both personal and economic exchanges, activities, and pursuits. It is only through Statism and Force that the concept of “zero-sum game” (if one gains, another loses) can be used to rationalize politically implementing statist-oriented policies, legislation, mandates, and controls to restrict, manipulate, and control economic activity, particularly trade, pricing, and profit - and do so by using coercive government force. It is only the social-political system of Statism, in any and all of its forms, that destroys both individual and economic freedom, and destroys economic prosperity for all.

Comment: It is a MYTH - a LIE - that Laissez-faire Capitalism, meaning complete individual and economic freedom, is responsible for the current (2008) economic and financial crisis. The TRUTH is that it was caused by statist-oriented, corrupt, coercive government “anti-economic” legislation and interference that was restricting, regulating, manipulating, mandating, dictating, limiting, and controlling of free-market practices and activities, preventing otherwise “sound, rational, objective, open, honest, accountable, productive economic and financial decisions and actions,” thus allowing corrupt actions and practices by corrupt politicians and crony capitalists to engage in “unsound, irrational, non-objective, corrupt, deceptive, unaccountable, destructive decisions and actions” that recklessly diverted money and resources away from the true financial and productive demands in the economy – through such government-established pseudo-business entities as Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac - that messed things up for all private citizens and businesses – worldwide!

-- For a full discussion regarding the myth of blaming Laissez-fair Capitalism for our current (2008) economic and financial crisis, see Dr. George Reisman’s recent essay “The Myth that Laissez Faire Is Responsible for Our Financial Crisis,” from his blog site George Reisman's Blog on Economics, Politics, Society, and Culture.

22. Earning & Producing vs. Looting & Poverty

2008-10-12T16:02:00.005-04:00

The following discussion regards how Capitalism and Freedom encourages the Earning and Producing of Wealth and Property versus how Statism and Force encourages the Looting and Destruction of Wealth and Property (meaning, Poverty). My discussion regarding Earning and Producing under Capitalism comes first, followed by my discussion regarding Looting and Poverty under Statism.

Earning, producing, saving, and accumulation of wealth and property under Laissez-faire Capitalism and Freedom.

Simply put, Laissez-faire Capitalism represents a social-political-economic system that establishes, recognizes, and protects the individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all individuals and businesses, and where all property is privately owned. Laissez-faire Capitalism represents a true unrestricted, unregulated (laissez-faire) economy, where all commerce and business activities and practices exists, grows, and prosper - completely unhampered by government interference, manipulation, restriction, regulation, mandate, or control. Also under Laissez-faire Capitalism, a proper, objective, representational, constitutionally-limited government is established for purposes of recognizing and protecting all freedoms and rights of all individuals and businesses. In this manner, a Capitalist government’s only sole purpose and function is the recognition, preservation, defense, and protection of individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms – through such a government’s only three proper functions: (1) provide a military for national defense and protection, (2) provide police and law enforcement applications for domestic defense and protection, and (3) establish a proper, objective justice system (courts) to render and apply rational, objective rules and laws – all this oriented to the recognition and protection of freedom and rights (including property rights), both individual and economic. This in turn leads to the encouragement of, establishment of, prosperity of, and the expansion of the earning, production, savings, investment, and accumulation of wealth and property – for all individuals and businesses in a capitalist, free society.

Reference Items Nos. 1-4 above.

The Capitalist Attitude Towards People

In my opinion, true Capitalists do not wish to see people remain poor, destitute, or ignorant. It is in the best of all free individuals’ rational self-interests to see all other free individuals learn to improve their individual lives, learn to love and enjoy freedom, and grow to be productive and prosperous, and gain (earn) self-respect and self-esteem in the process.

Regarding the Mental Orientation of Capitalists

In my opinion, a true Capitalist may experience inner feelings of fear and uncertainty about life and other people, but because of their own self-respect and the respect of other individuals’ life, individual freedom, individual rights, and property rights, he/she would not resort to demanding or seeking control and power over other free, stronger individuals through government force, intervention, regulation, and/or control. Such individuals would do the best they could with their own life and try to continue to improve themselves. But they would not demand that the government “strap down,” interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, restrict, regulate, mandate, violate, tax, and control any and/or all other free individuals and businesses, especially those individuals and businesses that are high achievers and who can vastly out-produce and out-perform others.

VERSUS -

Looting, poverty, destitution, and destruction of wealth and property under Statism (in any and all of its forms) and Force.

Simply put, Statism represents a social-political system that establishes, implements, and uses coercive government force and control over the freedom and rights of all individuals and businesses (as the individual’s life belongs to the state), and the government regulates and controls a country’s (or geographic region’s) economy. In this manner, a Statist government’s sole and only focus becomes its self-preservation, meaning a Statist government’s only course and function is oriented towards maintaining its political power and control over the citizenry and economy, at all costs. It is my view that because of this, the only outcome, the only result, from the spread of, growth of, and consumption from Statism is the guaranteed (and predictable) contraction and destruction of a country’s economy, along with individual and economic freedom. This in turn leads to the eventual looting, poverty, impoverishment, destitution, demise, and destruction of all wealth and property – of every individual and every business – even for the Statists who cause it in the first place.

Example: While I can list numerous examples of the negative, destructive effects of Statism occurring around the world, in such countries as Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, even Mexico or Sweden, one needs to look no further than what is happening in the present day United States of America. The spread and growth of Statism (socialism, Marxism, and environmentalism) in the U.S.A. is dangerously all-powerful and destroying it – meaning Statism American-style is destroying the individual and economic freedom and rights of all Americans and their businesses, and is in the process of devouring, devastating, and destroying our economy.

Reference Items Nos. 1-4 above.

The Statist Attitude Towards People

In my opinion, Statists desire to keep people poor, destitute, and ignorant so as to keep their power and control through using government force. Statists do not care about the quality or condition of life of the citizens of their country or regime. They may preach that they do care about other peoples’ conditions and concerns, but they really only care to maintain their own political power and control over other people, by using coercive government manipulation and force - at any expense, at all costs - to avoid their own sad, miserable, inner fears, weaknesses, envy and hatred towards life and towards other stronger, free individuals.

Statists also tend to disconnect their statist ideas, ideologies, agenda, and policies from the actual factual negative, and destructive, consequences and results that occur from applying their statist ideas, ideologies, agenda, and policies through coercive government force (they separate their ideas from reality, from facts). In this way, Statists generally end up blaming others for the destructive consequences and results from their own irrational, negative, evil, and immoral statist ideas, agenda, and policies.

Example: Blaming the free-market (Laissez-faire Capitalism) and President George W. Bush for the current 2008 financial and economic crisis facing the U.S.A., while it is actually the result of the implementation of the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (the CRA) by Congress in 1977 and signed into law by then President Jimmy Carter, along with other government regulatory interference.

--- In this respect, I refer you to a recent essay by Dr. George Reisman titled “The Myth that Laissez Faire Is Responsible for Our Present Crisis,” posted at the Ludwig von Mises Institute website.
--- Also, see these two articles:
From Bloomberg.com - “How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis” by Kevin Hassett
-- and --
From City-journal.org - “The Trillion-Dollar Bank Shakedown That Bodes Ill for Cities” by Howard Husock – written Winter 2000.

Regarding the Mental Orientation of Statists

In my opinion, being a statist is all about avoiding reality (facts) and running away from their own inner fears, self-responsibility, uncertainty, and their hatred of life, themselves, and other people – and turning that fear and hatred towards controlling other people while gaining only a false sense of self-worth, no true self-respect, and a continual diminishing self-esteem and hollow, empty self-worth. In the end, it is all about trying to control reality and other people in order to try to help themselves avoid and ward off the eventual dread of facing their own inner fears and hatred, their empty inner self-worth, and their low self-esteem, as long as possible. And they will do it even at the destruction of civilization and the mass murder of millions of people. Statists will do this and more at all costs to try to preserve their political power and personal control over reality, meaning over people.

23. Limitless Abundance vs. Mass Impoverishment

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This is my discussion and commentary regarding how Laissez-faire Capitalism and Freedom makes possible a Limitless Abundance of Food, Products, Services, and Resources versus how Statism and Force lead to Mass Impoverishment, Famine, and Starvation. My discussion regarding Limitless Abundance through Capitalism comes first, followed by my discussion regarding Mass Impoverishment through Statism.

Limitless Abundance of Food, Products, Services, and Resources through Laissez-faire Capitalism and Freedom

Laissez-faire Capitalism and Freedom represent and leads to limitless abundance, meaning an ever-growing, unlimited variety of food, products, and services provided within a system of individual freedom, productiveness, and “peaceful, voluntary cooperation” between individuals and businesses – with an ongoing and unending process of free-market production and competition to continue to provide an even greater variety of food, products, and services at greater quality and cheaper prices – with immense, almost unlimited, choices of food, products, and services available for all levels of income - from canned foods and toys to education and health care, from art supplies and computers to leisure and home improvement.

The production and availability of an immense, limitless abundance and variety of food, and related products, all oriented towards filling the consumer demand of feeding billions of free, productive people worldwide (benefits from free-market mass production of food) - again, all achieved through the peaceful, voluntary cooperation and trade between individuals – all achieved in a division of labor, capitalistic system.

The capitalist constitutionally-limited government stays focused on the defense and protection of its citizens, including the recognition, preservation, defense and protection their individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms. The free-market (meaning all commerce) is left unrestricted, unregulated, and unobstructed by government interference, left free to compete to produce as much food, products, and services as is desired and required by a free society of individuals based on the economic concept of unregulated supply and demand.

Because there is no government forced taxation or fees, or no government forced interference, regulation, or control of the economy under Capitalism, two important positive economic factors occur: (1) an individual’s production of personal disposable and available income and wealth increases significantly, and (2) individual personal leisure time also increases due to the fact that the individual can work less (if he/she so chooses) to earn and produce enough income and wealth to provide a personal satisfactory standard of living, all due to the free-market division of labor process and the efficiency of a growing, prosperous unrestricted, unregulated free-market economy – both factors giving rise to individuals and businesses having MORE income, wealth, and time to spend on the foods, products, services, and interests that are important to the life of the individuals and businesses, not the growth of a statist tyrannical government.

The economic concept of unrestricted, unregulated supply and demand, guided by the freedom of peaceful, voluntary cooperation and trade between each and every individual and business, leads to the amazing abundance and variety of food, products, and services that only a capitalist social-political-economic system can supply and support.

Observe what is available in present day U.S.A. even as a mixed-economy, and observed what has occurred in present day Ireland and Chile, even South Korea.

Imagine what the U.S.A. would be like without the influences, interferences, and obstructions of statist-oriented politicians, agenda, policies, and regulations. Imagine what the U.S.A. would be like without taxation and without a government regulated economy. Another way of saying this is: imagine what the U.S.A. would be like with unrestricted, unregulated commerce, no taxation, no welfare state, and true individual and economic freedom.

Imagine what China would be like with the recognition of true individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, unregulated commerce, an objective rule of law, and the complete absence of Communism and government control. Imagine what India would be like with the same recognition of true individual freedom, individual rights, property rights, unregulated commerce, an objective rule of law, and the complete absence of Socialism and government control. It would be truly awesome and amazing. Billions of individual people living freely and exercising their natural, inalienable rights to life, liberty, pursuing their property rights and individual happiness.

The United States shouldn’t be the only country to be fundamentally based on individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, objective rule of law, and an unrestricted, unregulated commerce and free-market, all protected by a proper constitutionally-limited government. Laissez-faire Capitalism doesn’t belong to just one single country, or only a few countries. Laissez-faire Capitalism is about individual and economic freedom for everyone - for every single individual human being living anywhere and everywhere in the world, and the universe.

All the world’s peoples – meaning all the world’s individuals - in all the world’s countries, have the inalienable right to their individual and economic freedom, their individual life, their individual liberty, and the exercise of their individual rights and property rights, and their individual pursuits of happiness, which includes to be free of any type or kind of Statism, meaning free of any type or kind of coercive government control, force, and tyranny - anywhere on earth or in the universe - to live and associate freely, openly, voluntarily, productively, competitively, peacefully, and happily.

All the various foods, products, applications, services, and resources for all human life-oriented requirements, wants, and needs are not created and established in a social-political-economical VOID – it doesn’t just happen in some vacuum by magic, nor occur out of thin air, nor out of a puff of smoke. There first has to exist a political-social-economic system that is a freedom-oriented, limited government, division of labor, wealth producing, unrestricted, unregulated capitalistic society, where there is a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government that recognizes, preserves, defends, and protects individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, including recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting unrestricted and unregulated economic freedom of all commerce and business activity and applications.

Only Laissez-faire Capitalism can provide such an environment where billions of individuals enjoy the advantages of the productive, expanding, and flourishing markets for all human life-oriented requirements and needs – and where millions of businesses can develop and establish themselves to produce and provide essentially limitless products, applications, services, and resources - and of continual high quality at all price levels due to free-market competition - for billions of people for all their human life-oriented requirements, wants, and needs – worldwide.

You will find such economic prosperity and choice only in the relatively freer, capitalist-oriented countries like the United States, Canada, Ireland, or Chile. But you won’t find it in such statist countries as Cuba, Iran, or Venezuela.

Capitalism represents Economic Expansion and Prosperity for all people, everywhere and anywhere in the world.

Statism represents Economic Contraction & Decline for all people, everywhere and anywhere in the world.

If you want to protect and preserve your ability to enjoy your secondary interests, hobbies, and pastimes, including all the business products, services, and resources available, then I strongly suggest that you
- support, defend, demand, and “vote in” Capitalism and all that it stands for, and
- shun, denounce, reject, and “vote down” and “vote out” Statism (socialism, leftist-liberalism, communism, Marxism, nationalism, environmentalism, including mixed economies) and all that it stands for.

Individual freedom, economic freedom, protection of individual rights and property rights, unrestricted and unregulated division of labor, wealth production, and open, free-market competition are the best ways to achieve and provide abundance, and both real objective quality and value in all areas of society and the market place.

Mass Impoverishment, Famine, and Starvation through Statism and Force

Statism and Force represent and leads to mass impoverishment, famine, and starvation, meaning a continually declining and limited supply of food, products, and services – and gets worse as Statism continues to grow and expand to regulate, control, tax, and consume more and more of the economy, while destroying business and individual production. Relationships between individuals and businesses become increasingly tense, fraudulent, threatening, and destructive.

Statism is responsible for the mass destitution, impoverishment, famine, starvation, and murder of millions of people worldwide. Statism is responsible for massive food, product, service, and resource shortages, along with increasing food and product production costs and prices, and a continual true scarcity of food, products, services, and resources as Statism grows to consume and destroy more and more of the productive energies and efforts of commerce and business, and including even the individual efforts by individual citizens just trying to survive under continual government interference, regulation, limitations, control, violation, and oppression.

Because there is all types of government interference, infringement, manipulation, taxation, limits, prohibiting, dictates, regulations, mandates, violations, and/or control of individual freedom and the economy under Statism, two important negative influential factors occur that diminish and destroy such markets: (1) an individual’s personal disposable and available income and wealth decreases and diminishes significantly towards zero value due to more income and wealth going towards paying increasing taxes and fees, with more and more of the remaining personal funds being applied towards the basic human survival needs of food and shelter for self and family as the economic system also continually contracts and becomes less stable under Statism, and (2) individual personal leisure time also decreases and diminishes due to the fact that the individual must spend more of his/her time earning and producing income and wealth just to pay increasing government taxes and fees, spend more time to comply with government regulations and mandates, and due to the government’s interference, control, and disruption of the free-market division of labor process and the inefficiency and chaos of a government regulated and controlled economy – both factors giving rise to the individual having LESS income, wealth, and time to spend on any food, products, services, or interests, even for the most basic necessities required for human survival, as more and more individual and business wealth, time, and production go to the continual devouring, destructive spread, and maintenance of a statist tyrannical government.

Also, statist policies and practices completely disrupt and destroy the natural development and flow of the positive free-market economic law of supply and demand, with the government regulating, mandating, controlling, and forcing a limited, politically regulated and manipulated economy onto the citizenry - where all food, products, and services continually decrease in supply and availability – with the government regulating and controlling what you can and cannot do with your property, where you can and cannot live, what you can and cannot purchase, what you can and cannot eat, what doctors you can and cannot use, what drugs you can and cannot take, what life style you can and cannot have, etc., etc., etc.

Simply witness and observe what has been happening to our own United States government over the past 30 years, as the negative influences of Statism spreads and grows. Historically, witness all the mass poverty, misery, impoverishment, starvation, and death that occurred under the statist dictatorial regimes of the former U.S.S.R. and Communist China. Witness the current conditions in statist countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, or Iran. Witness also what has been happening the past 20-30 years to the statist countries in Africa, as well as in other Central or South American countries.

Statist policies and practices lead to government controlled and forced rationing of any and/or all available food, products, services, and resources (such as wheat, corn, milk, oil, gasoline, medical care, etc.). Basically, under Statism, anything that is grown, produced, manufactured, invented, built, or created in a free-market economy, comes under the regulation and control of the government (the state) and its agencies, and therefore, any food, product, service, or resource can then be rationed by the government at any time for any reason – including no better reason than devious political manipulation to maintain power and control over the citizenry, and its hideous self-preservation – at all costs.

For example, the energy crisis and forced rationing of gasoline that occurred in the United States during the 1970’s was the result of government regulation and control of the nation’s energy resources, including the production of and pricing of, not because there were any shortages of energy resources. It was a statist-oriented politically created crisis. The same thing is happening again today in the United States, regarding our “latest” energy and oil crisis. It is the practice of statist policies at work in the U.S. Government that is causing and perpetuating the current energy problems. Get rid of the current government statist politician and statist policies, deregulate the energy industry, and the energy problems for the U.S. get solved. A completely unrestricted, unregulated free-market economy, along with the recognition of property rights, will solve the current energy problems and provide more than enough energy for everyone’s wants and needs. The government, its agencies, and politicians need to get out of the way.

For Statists, when it comes to choosing between an unregulated free-market that provides such a limitless, wonderful array of products, services, and resources for free individuals, OR in preserving and maintaining their statist-socialist agenda, and political power and control over the citizenry and the economy, Statist will always choose doing anything and everything possible, including using government force to control and destroy the free-market economy, and enslave all individuals, just so that they can preserve and maintain their personal political power and control, including preserving their failing agenda and ideologies, at all costs.

Under Statism, the government’s build-up of police tyranny and military strength becomes the focus to maintain power and control, as food and product production and availability become scarce and unimportant to the ruling dictatorial regime and government.

Again, observe former Nazi Germany, the former U.S.S.R. and original Communist Eastern European countries, old Communist China, Cambodia, present day North Korea, Iran, Cuba, France, and present day Venezuela, as well as Zimbabwe and several other statist countries in present day Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

Statists will do whatever is necessary to preserve and maintain their political power and control, including their agenda and ideologies, AT ALL COSTS, including destroying the economy and enslaving the citizenry through government force. AT ALL COSTS!

This would include, of course, limiting and/or destroying the markets for all those wonderful, almost limitless products, applications, services, and resources available for your basic survival needs, but also all those secondary interests, hobbies, and pastimes – anything that would get in the way of a statist being able to preserve and maintain their personal political power and control, including their agenda and ideologies. This cannot be stressed enough: a statist will destroy anything that gets in the way of their power and control.

It is important to remember that statist agenda and ideologies include the following: socialism, communism, Marxism, environmentalism, “man-made” global-warming hysteria, nationalism, leftist-liberalism oriented ideas, fascism, multiculturalism, etc. See Item No. 9 above.

Statism represents Economic Contraction & Decline for all people, everywhere and anywhere in the world.

Capitalism represents Economic Expansion and Prosperity for all people, everywhere and anywhere in the world.

If you want to protect and preserve your ability to enjoy your secondary interests, hobbies, and pastimes, including all the business products, services, and resources available, then I strongly suggest that you
- support, defend, demand, and “vote in” Capitalism and all that it stands for, and
- shun, denounce, reject, and “vote down” and “vote out” Statism (socialism, leftist-liberalism, communism, Marxism, nationalism, environmentalism) and all that it stands for.

Not enough can be said about the destructive and evil force and power of Statism, in any and all of its forms. Statism destroys everything and anyone it touches. This is due to its two fundamental, essential elements: (1) individual human life – man’s life – belongs to the state (government or ruling group), and (2) the state regulates and controls the economy.

A Warning: be aware of what is happening to the present day United States of America, as it tumbles farther and farther into the ever growing influences of Statism as a mixed-economy (meaning the growing influences of Socialism, Marxism, Environmentalism, Global Warming hysteria, Multiculturalism). I think that if the current statist trend is not stopped and reversed, the United States of America will end up as socialist, impoverished, and tyrannical as any of the other statist and socialist countries of Europe, Central and South America, or Asia.

A Solution: If you are an American adult citizen who can vote and are very concerned about the current statist trend in the United States, then I suggest that you get to work and learn the difference between Capitalism and Statism. And then demand that any-and-all “mixed-economy and statist oriented” politicians and government officials (at all levels of government: local, state, federal), either change their statist political orientations or leave their current office and post. And if these “mixed-economy and statist oriented” politicians and government officials will not change or leave, then I suggest that you look for and demand that new “capitalist oriented” politicians and government officials run for office and fill various posts - and vote out the “mixed-economy and statist oriented” politicians and government officials, and vote in the “capitalist oriented” politicians and government officials. Also, look for all legal ways (in local, state, or federal levels) to legally remove “mixed-economy and statist oriented” politicians and government officials.

Remember, no one, including any and all politicians and government officials, has any “claim” or “right” to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, and/or control your naturally-based, inalienable individual rights, your property rights, and your derivative freedoms – as long as you are not in any legitimately violating or infringing upon the individual rights or property rights of others – because NO such “claim” or “right” exist. By your very existence and nature as a human being, your natural, inalienable rights to life, liberty, property rights, and pursuits of happiness belong only to you as an individual, and are not the ownership or possession of any other individual, group, or government – nor can these rights and freedoms be granted, decreed, or transferred by any other individual, group, or government. Your individual rights, including property rights, and all derivative freedoms are solely yours, and only yours as an independent individual – by your birthright and nature as an independent, individual human being. This is the essential reason why the original United States Constitution was established – to limit and outline the basic governing functions of a proper, objective constitutionally-limited government to keep it, the government, from violating and infringing upon the naturally-based, inalienable individual rights, property rights, and all derivative freedoms, of all individuals, of every single, individual man and woman.

For America’s survival as the free and prosperous country that it was originally set up to be, I suggest that all U.S. citizens demand that the current federal government be returned to its original functions that are outlined and limited under the United States Constitution, especially that which strictly limits the federal government’s function and interference in American life and commerce, clearly established under the Tenth Amendment:

”The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

And demand that the Sixteenth Amendment – the “Income Tax Amendment” – be completely repealed.

24. Standard of Living - Keep It or Lose It

2008-10-12T16:00:00.003-04:00

This is my discussion regarding a Limitless Standard of Living for all under Capitalism versus a Decreasing Standard of Living for all under Statism. The discussion regarding a Standard of Living under Capitalism comes first, followed by the discussion regarding a Standard of Living under Statism.

Capitalism is responsible for a Limitless, Increasing Standard of Living for All.

Capitalism makes possible a continual increase in the standard of living for billions of free, productive people worldwide. This fact is so obvious, and directly observable, throughout history and in the modern world today. See the examples below.

It is Capitalism and Freedom that lead to a continually increasing standard of living, and economic progress, for billions of individuals worldwide, because both Capitalism and freedom provide the necessary political and economic climate for the unlimited production of wealth (wealth meaning man-made material goods, or economic goods, as described by Dr. George Reisman – see Item No. 12 above). It is the production of wealth that provides the means and makes possible a continually increasing standard of living.

It is also Capitalism and Freedom that provide an individual with the opportunity to maintain, increase, and preserve their personal standard of living. It is ONLY through Capitalism and freedom that any of this is possible – there is no other way for billions of individuals worldwide to truly have the opportunity to increase their standards of living by participating in the unlimited production of wealth.

A capitalist society has what I call a “continual economic movement of productive people” (both individuals and businesses), people that “move” up and down through the various income and standard of living levels that exist in a capitalist society – with most people (individuals and businesses) moving up the economic “ladder” of income and standard of living levels.

Examples: Observe the United States of America, the freer countries of Western Europe (such as The Czech Republic and Ireland) or Asia (such a South Korea), present day Chile, etc.

Observe even the improvements in present day China, of the standard of living of its citizens, when elements of the free-market (Capitalism), and the easing of controls on individual freedom, are allowed to exist and function, despite the fact that China is still a communist dictatorship.

Dr Reisman writes: “There is no fixed limit to the process by which the increasing production of wealth can further enhance and extend human life and its enjoyment.”

--- Dr. George Reisman, from his book Capitalism, Part One, “The Foundations of Economics,” Chapter 2, “Wealth and Its Role in Human Life,” Section 6, “’Scarcity’ and the Transformation of Its Nature Under Capitalism,” p. 55, (Jameson Books, 1998). Reprinted with permission.

Statism is responsible for a Limited, Decreasing Standard of Living for All.

Statism leads to the continual decrease and destruction in the standard of living of billions of its enslaved citizens worldwide. Again, this fact is also so obvious, and directly observable, throughout history and in the modern world today. See the examples below.

It is Statism and Force that lead to the continual limitation, stagnation, decrease, and eventual destruction of any standard of living, including economic decay, for billions of individuals worldwide – from mixed-economies to total dictatorships – because Statism and Force establish the political climate that regulates, limits, controls, redistributes, and eventually destroys the production of wealth (wealth meaning man-made material goods, or economic goods, as described by Dr. George Reisman – see Item No. 12 above). Without the individual and/or business freedom and production of wealth, any true increase or preservation of an individual’s standard of living is impossible.

It is ALWAYS Statism (in any and all of its forms) and force that limits, decreases, and eventually destroys any economic standard of living by regulating, limiting, controlling, and redistributing the production of wealth.

Note that it is Statism, in all its control and regulation of the individual’s life and a country’s economy, that the only a “select” few individuals continue to get richer and richer, while the greater masses of people continue to get poorer and poorer. This is partially due to the motivation behind statist politicians and rulers, statist government workers, and crony capitalists to keep the masses of people worldwide poor and ignorant so that these same statist politicians and rulers, statist government workers, and crony capitalists can maintain their power and control over the populous and the economy – thus slowing, and eventually destroying, the ability of individuals to increase their personal standard of living by regulating, limiting, controlling, and redistributing the production of wealth.

Examples: Observe Nazi Germany, the original U.S.S.R., the original Communist Eastern European countries, old Communist China, Cambodia. Observe present day North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, etc.

25. What Characterizes Capitalists or Statists?

2008-10-12T15:59:00.003-04:00

The following is my general discussion regarding what I think are those character traits and qualities that "characterize" capitalist-oriented people, versus those character traits and qualities that "characterize" statist-oriented people. In these writings, I delve a bit - from my layman's perspective - into the world of the mental-orientations of capitalist-oriented people versus statist-oriented people. My discussion regarding what characterizes a capitalist comes first, followed by my discussion regarding what characterizes a statist.

What Characterizes a Capitalist?

To help understand the psychology of people attracted to Capitalism, see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

The following discussion is my layman's interpretation, commentary, and opinion.

I think that Capitalists are people who embrace and show love and desire for individual and economic freedom, liberty, individual rights, property rights, independence, and a life under an unrestricted, unregulated free-market economy. I refer to Capitalists as capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals.

In my opinion, the type of person who is attracted to Capitalism is one who has a strong sense of their own identity; they work towards a high self-esteem, they value reason and logic, and desire emotional harmony in their personal lives based on reality; they strive for intellectual independence, and independence in their life; they strive for self-reliance and self-responsibility; they strive for, and have, moral courage; they have a passion for life and liberty, and value work, productivity; they respect the privacy, independence, and personal lives of other individuals; they hold that all individuals are responsible for their own individual behavior and actions.

I think that even if a capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individual is struggling with their own personal shortcomings, psychological problems, low self-esteem, uncertainty, and fears, they would still have enough sense, self-responsibility, and integrity to know that it is wrong and evil to violate, infringe upon, restrict, regulate, control and/or prohibit the individual freedoms, the economic freedoms, individual rights, and property rights of any and all other individuals or businesses, and that it is wrong and evil to interfere with and regulate a free-market economy and all associated commerce practices, activities, and applications for all people and businesses.

I think that, fundamentally, Laissez-faire Capitalism offers capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals a true sense of personal control and security over their own personal freedom, independence, and life – and establishes and provides a world where they have no desire or motivation to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, enslave, or control the freedom and lives of other individuals and/or businesses.

The constitutionally-limited government of a true, laissez-faire capitalist social-political system recognizes, preserves, defends, and protects individual and economic freedom, including individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms of all individuals and businesses, and stays out of peoples’ lives – unless, of course, the military, police, and/or the justice system (courts) must intervene due to the initiation of force and/or fraud by other individuals, criminals, and/or aggressive, threatening nations. Under a social-political system of Capitalism, statist-oriented people who fear freedom, independence, and self-responsibility would not be able to use coercive government intervention, control, manipulation, or force – through political favors or special interests - against the rest of the free individuals and businesses; that is, against people who love their freedom, independence, self-responsibility, and self-reliance. Again, under a proper social-political-economic system of Capitalism, government force cannot be used against individuals to interfere with, infringe upon, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, violate, or control their individual rights, property rights, and any and all derivative freedoms, including all free-market, commerce, business, and banking activities – as long as these individuals and businesses are not legitimately violating or infringing upon the individual rights and property rights of others.

I think that true Capitalists completely reject the notion that the individual’s life belongs to the state (government or ruling group) in any manner whatsoever.

I think that true Capitalists completely reject the notion that the state (government or ruling group) must interfere with, regulate, limit, mandate, or control - in any manner - the free-market economy (including all commerce, business, and banking).

I think that true Capitalists also completely reject the notion that the state must regulate, limit, mandate, or control - in any manner – the fields of education, science, technology, agriculture, medicine, research, etc.

Statism (collectivism, socialism, leftist-liberalism, communism, Marxism, nationalism, environmentalism, etc.) is not a “right” of any individual, group, government, or nation as slavery is not a “right” of any individual, group, government, or nation – and no individual, group, nation, or government has a “right” or a “claim” over the freedom, the lives, the individual rights, property rights, derivative freedom, and economic freedom of any and all individuals and/or businesses. There is NO such “right” to establish Statism over a society and its economy. Statism can only by implemented and function through force.

Slavery, Force, and Statism ARE NOT legitimate alternatives to Freedom and Capitalism. There is NO such “right” over another individual’s life or individual rights! There is NO such “right” to enslave! There is NO “right” to slavery! There is NO “right” to Statism in any of its forms, and there is NO “right” to force Statism onto anyone! NO ONE – not another individual, group, government, or nation - owns or has any legitimate “claim” over the life of any other human being (individual) and/or any type or form of business, anywhere on earth or in the universe!

Just because some individual or politician, or group of individuals or politicians (such as either the U.S. Democrat or Republican Party, or the U.S. Congress) wants some form of a statist government regulating and controlling the citizenry and economy of a country or region, does not give them any claim or “right” to force their statist-oriented ideology, agendas, life styles, dogmas, practices, or policies onto the citizenry or economy. Violation of Rights, Criminal Actions, and Enslavement IS NOT a right! Forcing Socialism onto a society IS NOT a right!

I think that true Capitalists (including those individuals who work for a capitalist government) live by, recognize, respect, practice, and defend the idea that the individual’s life belongs only onto that particular individual themselves - whether man or woman – meaning that the individual’s life does not belong to the state (government or ruling group), nor to any other group, in any way or manner whatsoever.

I also think that true Capitalists also recognize, practice, and defend the individual’s freedom and the right to his/her own life, as well as recognize, practice, and defend individual rights, including property rights, and derivative freedoms. And true Capitalists recognize, practice, and defend a completely unregulated laissez-faire free-market economy for all individuals and businesses – meaning economic freedom for all individuals and businesses.

-- For an edited discussion by Any Rand on being motivated by love as opposed to being motivated by fear, see -Motivation by Love vs. by Fear at The Ayn Rand Lexiconand -Individualism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/.

-- Again, for a very insightful discussion regarding the relationship between psychology, individual freedom, and Capitalism see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

VERSUS -

What Characterizes a Statist?

To help understand the psychology of people attracted to Statism, see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

The following discussion is my layman's interpretation, commentary, and opinion.

I think that Statists (socialists) are people who reject, denounce, and show hatred and fear of individual and economic freedom, liberty, individual rights, property rights, independence, and life under a free-market economy. I refer to Statists as statist-oriented and force-oriented individuals.

In my opinion, many people who are attracted to Statism - and its various forms and political systems – are people who have a weak sense of their own identity; they generally have low self-esteem, despise reason and logic, dwell in emotionalism, irrationalism, and uncertainty (emotions have priority over reason); they dislike, hate, and/or fear life, liberty, independence; they despise, hate, and fear rational individual ambition and productivity; they despise self-reliance and self-responsibility; they want and demand to be unconditionally dependent on others and the government – and they also want and demand that everyone else, including businesses, be forced to also be dependent on each other and the government; they support the collection of “continually increasing” taxes and fees to pay for their cherish governmental social and welfare agenda, projects, and programs, including retirement, education, and healthcare.

I think that statist-oriented and force-oriented individuals obsess over their need to politically control, interfere with, and infringe upon the freedom, rights, privacy, independence, activities, and lives of other people and businesses; they want to restrict, regulate, manipulate, direct, and control the life styles, the personal and social behavior, the work, and the business of others by using government force applied through political and governmental restriction, regulation, legislation, mandates, dictates, and control. I think true Statists (socialists) are people driven by an obsession for political power and control over the lives and work of other people and businesses – either through (1) their own unhealthy ambition to be a coercive political “ruler” (not a leader) over men and the economy, or (2) through belonging to a coercive group, gang, or organization, or (3) through appointing or voting in their “chosen” statist-oriented, coercion-oriented political-governmental politicians, officials, and rulers.

My wife, A.C. Cargill, refers to such people as those who are “Power Drunk” – meaning people who are intoxicated (obsessed) with their desire for political power and control, who are also fixated with their own false sense of grandiose self-importance over others, and who are self-absorbed with the “white knight” syndrome, where life and everything is always terrible and only they (meaning only themselves or only some group or gang of like-minded people) can, and must, “ride in to save the day” – and that they must always be around to do it “just in case.” To which I might add that it is always coercive government force and control that is their method, their means, of accomplishing their ends, of saving everyone from a terrible life/world/existence.

It is curious that statist-oriented and force-oriented people always seem to follow the old adage: the ends justify the means.

For example, in the application of the statist-socialist oriented legislation of the Fairness Doctrine and for those statist-oriented private individuals and government politicians who support it, the forced “fairness amongst all” ENDS justify the “violation of individual rights, property rights, and derivative freedoms, including the restriction, regulation, control, and enslavement of people and businesses” MEANS.

Is that harsh and mean? Sorry, but Statism is not NICE no matter how you apply it.

For Statists, true freedom is not fair.

It is my opinion that such social and political power and control over all people (individuals), private groups, and businesses – by using and wielding coercive government force - gives Statists (socialists) a sense of control and security, albeit pseudo and false, over their own uncertain, miserable lives and their empty, hollow inner-selves.

Statists (socialists) also tend to separate their ideologies from reality and truth, meaning separating their ideas from historical fact, scientific fact, and the actual, factual, destructive consequences of following and forcing their ideas and agendas, through government force, onto others. Statists (socialists) want to push and force their “utopian ideologies” onto the human race, using government force and control, while deliberately avoiding, ignoring, and evading the actual, factual, destructive historical evidence showing the “disastrous consequences” (Dr. Andrew Bernstein) of their statist-socialist ideologies, agendas, policies, and actions. The preservation of their “statist-socialist ideologies” is far more important to them than reality and truth, and despite any historical proof showing the destructive nature of Statism, and the factual brutal murder of millions of human beings worldwide by various statist-socialist-tyrannical-dictatorial governments. Statists (socialists) also constantly ignore the factual evidence of prosperity and the benefits that Capitalism and freedom has brought to, and continues to bring to, people worldwide.

Dr. Andrew Bernstein refers to this “mental” practice of separating ideas from facts and reality as The Great Disconnect – the “mental” separation of ideology from reality by Statists (socialists, leftist-liberals, Marxists, communists, environmentalists, nationalist, modern day unionists, etc.). See Dr. Bernstein’s writings and discussion of The Great Disconnect in his book The Capitalist Manifesto, in the “Afterword: The Great Disconnect Revisited,” pp. 391-394, also including pp. 19, 227, and 435-436.

It is my opinion that the infringement upon, violation of, regulation of, and control over other individuals and businesses, that Statism requires and establishes, offers Statists (socialists) a false and pseudo sense of self-esteem, security, control, and identity over their own lives, but at the expense of violating and enslaving everyone else. This is why many of today’s politicians and government officials, including many government employees, are attracted to statist-socialist type government systems (including mixed-economies). I think that using government force against, and to control (enslave), other individuals and businesses gives statist-oriented individuals - politicians, government officials, and many government employees, and even many private sector people and businessmen (crony capitalists) - a sense of meaning to their lives, albeit a pseudo and false meaning, while trying to fill that empty void of low self-esteem, low self-worth, and self hatred - but it is a false meaning, a pseudo meaning. Sadly though, that empty void, that hollow inner-self, that empty core – that “hollow core” (my term) - can never be fixed, filled, or satisfied with the control and enslavement of other individuals and businesses. (Yes, even billionaire “crony” capitalists – in my opinion – harbor low self-esteem and low self-worth as they generally want, demand, and support a Statist government that offers them protectionism and favoritism, on their behalf and benefit, against a free-market economy – but only as long as these crony capitalists can stay a favorite in the eyes of statist political leaders/rulers.)

It is my opinion that true Statists (socialists) – that is, people who obsess over political power and control - do not, and cannot, function in a mental state with high self-esteem and a positive self-worth – due to their very fundamental ideas, views, and feelings towards their life, other people, and reality (existence). It is my contention that all true Statists (socialists) possess, and function in, a mental state of low self-esteem. True Statist can only function in a mental state of low self-esteem, of negative self-worth.

In my view, a Statist (socialist) with high self-esteem is a contradiction in terms. Why? Because anyone with a true good and high self-esteem and true positive self-worth are attracted to, recognize, and support individual and economic freedom, not political control, force, and tyranny. I think High Self-Esteem and Freedom go hand-in-hand, and Low Self-Esteem and Political Power and Control go hand-in-hand. For each, one depends upon the other.

I refer to my own ideas regarding the relationship between low self-esteem and the obsession, the Lust for Political Power and Control over the lives and work of other people and businesses as The “Political Hollow Core” Syndrome.

Fundamentally, Statism, with its government force and control, gives statist-oriented people a false sense of control over reality (meaning over their own miserable life that they fear) by manipulating, limiting, enslaving, and controlling other people who want freedom, liberty, and independence – those same “independent” individuals and businesses they envy and hate. Statism establishes a world where such statist-oriented behavior, manipulation, restriction, regulation, control, and tyranny are possible.

Statism offers force, control, and tyranny over individual (personal) freedom and independence – individual freedom and independence being the two essential life-promoting principles that many statist-oriented individuals fear, hate, and find threatening.

It is my opinion that Statists (socialists) tend to envy and hate individuals who love freedom and independence. Finally, don’t believe those individuals and businessmen who say that they don’t want Statism (government force and control over the citizenry and economy) for themselves, but want it for the “less fortunate” and “disadvantaged.” Don’t be fooled for a second! They want the “safety net” of Statism, meaning a nanny government, “just in case,” as much for themselves as for the “other” less fortunate.

-- Again, I refer the reader to Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

It is my opinion that Statists (socialists) are fools who aren’t honest with their own inner fears, hatred, envy, and uncertainties, and they want, and even demand, that the government interfere with, manipulate, infringe upon, limit, dictate, prohibit, regulate, control, and enslave stronger, independent individuals and businesses who want and love individual and economic freedom. Statists, both in the public and private sector (including crony capitalists), desire and want coercive government regulation and control so that they can “feel” better about their own empty inner selves, and attempt to achieve, and maintain, a false sense – a pseudo sense - of security and control (that they so desperately need) over their own lives, through limiting, restricting, regulating, mandating, violating, enslaving, and controlling other individuals and businesses.

It is my opinion that Statists (socialists) believe fundamentally that an individual’s life and work belongs to the state (government or ruling group). Statists (socialists) believe that the individual has little or no right to his/her own life, work, freedom, liberty, rights, or property. Statists (socialists) believe that the state (government or ruling group) must interfere with, infringe upon, restrict, limit, prohibit, dictate, regulate, mandate, or control the individual’s freedom, life, liberty, and property, as well as regulate and control economic freedom and the economy, meaning all institutions, practices, and activities associated with all commerce, business, trading, financing, and banking.

Regarding Statism: once a statist government (in any form) is well established in a country, and the political and ruling statist ideologues are all gone, it is the true brutal political thugs that take over and rule in the end, and rule brutally and murderously. Observe the history of the various types of hideous rule worldwide under such statist tyrants as Hitler of Nazi Germany, Stalin and Lenin of the former Soviet Union, Mao Tse-tung of China, Pol Pot of Cambodia, Idi Amin of Uganda, or present day statist tyrants such as Kim Il-sung of North Korea, or Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe – where hundreds of millions of people have been murdered and starved to death, and continue to be murdered and starved to death, all in the name of Statism in whatever form it takes (socialist, leftist-liberalism, communism, Marxism, nationalism, environmentalism, etc.).

-- For an edited discussion by Any Rand on being motivated by love as opposed to being motivated by fear, see
-Motivation by Love vs. by Fear at The Ayn Rand Lexicon, and
-Individualism at http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/.

-- Again, for a very insightful discussion regarding the relationship between psychology, force, and Statism, see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

My closing thought:

There is nothing worse for a man’s character than trying to prove his self-worth by enslaving other men.

26. Who Are Capitalists and Who Are Statists

2008-10-12T15:58:00.004-04:00

The following is my discussion regarding who is actually a capitalist, and why they are attracted to Capitalism and Freedom, versus who is actually a statist, and why they are attracted to Statism and Force. My discussion regarding who is a capitalist comes first, followed by my discussion regarding who is a statist. Again, this is written from my layman's perspective.

Who is a Capitalist, and why are they attracted to Capitalism and Freedom?

The following is my layman’s interpretation, commentary, and opinion.

I think that a Capitalist is anyone who recognizes, respects, and defends individual freedom, individual rights, including property rights, all derivative freedoms, and supports and defends a completely unregulated laissez-faire free-market economy (economic freedom) for all individual human beings worldwide, or anywhere in the universe – regardless EVEN if this same person might be struggling with their own personal shortcomings, psychological problems, low self-esteem, uncertainty, and fears, but who still has enough sense, self-responsibility, and integrity to know that it is wrong and evil to violate, infringe upon, regulate, control and/or prohibit the individual freedoms, individual rights, and property rights of any and all other individuals or businesses, and that it is wrong and evil to interfere with and regulate a free-market economy and all involved commerce activities and applications for all people and businesses.

I also think that a Capitalist is also anyone who agrees with, supports, and practices the Rational Concept of Freedom. See Item No. 3 above.

-- For my extended discussion regarding what I think characterizes capitalist-oriented individuals versus what characterizes statist-oriented individuals, see Item No. 25 above.

I think that a Capitalist is any individual, man or woman, who fundamentally, genuinely, and seriously thinks that the life, body, mind, and property of each and every other individual, man or woman, belongs only to that particular individual themselves – and that the individual’s life, body, mind, and property does not belong to any other individual, group, government, state, or nation. A Capitalist is also anyone who thinks that all property should be privately owned, and that property rights of all individuals must be respected, recognized, preserved, defended, and protected by a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited, representational government. Finally, a Capitalist is anyone who fundamentally, genuinely, and seriously supports and defends a true laissez-faire free-market economy, where all commerce, business, trade, financing, and banking are completely unrestricted and unregulated by the government in any manner whatsoever.

Basically, a Capitalist is anyone –

- from a company delivery man to the company CEO,
- from a private school teacher to the magazine and book publisher,
- from the housewife/househusband to the baby food producer,
- from a local shop owner to the billionaire venture capitalist,
- from someone earning $10,000 per year to someone earning $10 billion per year,
- from a music composer to the top record company boss,
- from a classical violinist to a rock guitarist,
- from a sculptor to a construction tool manufacturer,
- from the street sweeper to the highway engineer,
- from the fast-food cook to a top restaurant manager,
- from a struggling artist to the corporate board chairman,
- from a small town theater actor to a movie mega-star,
- from the solo working cowboy to the billionaire rancher,
- from a research scientist to the entrepreneurial inventor,
- from the bank clerk to the bank president,
- from the military private to the top military General,
- from the policeman to a Supreme Court Judge,
- and on, and on, and on, and on.

A Capitalist is anyone who recognizes, respects, supports, and defends individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and an unregulated free-market economy; who respects, supports, and defends the profit motive and the production of wealth, and who does not envy, fear, and hate the wealth and freedom of others; who supports and defends the objective rule of law; and who supports a proper, objectively established, constitutionally-limited government based on the principles of Individual Freedom and Capitalism. I also think that a Capitalist is anyone who basically embraces and loves freedom and life, of being responsible for their own life, of providing for themselves, and of being self-reliant.

I believe that it is a Capitalist’s basic LOVE and DESIRE for a self-determined, independent life that drives and motivates them towards embracing, recognizing, supporting, and defending Laissez-faire Capitalism, individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and a proper representational, constitutionally-limited government.

Get the picture? You do not have to be someone who wants to start a business, run a business, be a banker or professional investor, an entrepreneur or a venture capitalist, or who wants to be the richest individual in the world to be a Capitalist. No matter your religion, philosophy, or creed, no matter your race or color of skin, no matter your national origin, no matter your gender or sexual orientation, no matter your age, no matter your personal ambition or goals, and no matter your personal economic situation or where you stand in the mix of a free-market economy – an artist, a farmer, an employee, a manager, a hair stylist, a banker, a teacher, a contractor, a student, a CEO, a scientist (such a George Washington Carver), or an entrepreneur – if you, as an individual, agree with the ideas, principles, and concepts that recognize, preserved, defend, and protect individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and support Capitalism as the only proper and moral social-political system for the human race, then I think you can consider yourself a true Capitalist.

It is my opinion that true capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals focus on, recognize, respect, support, and defend Individual Freedom and true Capitalism, and all the positive, limitless benefits and prosperity that Individual Freedom and Capitalism bring to human life. Capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals know only too well, are very aware of, do not ignore, and do not kid themselves about the disastrous consequences of Government Force and Control over individual and economic freedom, and all the misery, poverty, despair, and economic chaos and ruin that Statism, with all its government force and control, causes for all the individuals and businesses of a society.

Fundamentally, I think capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and true business capitalists reject, shun, and do not support any type of coercive government interference, intimidation, manipulation, force, and control over individual and economic freedom. I think that, for the most part, their personal motivations are oriented towards a purely individual rational-selfish purpose (as opposed to an individual irrational-selfishness). I think that capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals realize that their own personal lives and businesses benefit immensely - both directly and indirectly - from the positive, limitless, productive, and prosperous results of true individual freedom and of unrestricted, unregulated economic freedom for all individuals and businesses.

I think that capitalist-oriented and freedom-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and true business capitalists know and recognized that a proper, representational, constitutionally-limited government is established and implemented ONLY for the purpose and function of recognizing, preserving, defending, and protecting individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and an unregulated free-market economy – and for no other purpose or function.

Capitalism and Freedom is for all the peoples of the world; for every single individual man, woman, and child of the world; for all the human races of the world; for all the countries and regions of the world. Capitalism and Freedom is for all of mankind anywhere in the world or the universe.

Who is a Statist, and why are they attracted to Statism and Force?

The following is my layman’s interpretation, commentary, and opinion.

I think that a Statist is anyone who fundamentally, genuinely, and seriously thinks that man’s life (meaning the life of every single, individual human being worldwide - every man, woman, and child) belongs to the state (meaning some government or ruling group), and that the state (government or ruling group) must do whatever is necessary to establish, preserve, and maintain its power, control, and coercion – through the use of coercive government force – over the individual’s life, work, and freedom, and all economic freedom, activity and applications.

I also think that a Statist is also anyone who agrees with, supports, and practices the Anarchic Concept of Freedom. See Item No. 3 above.

-- For my extended discussion regarding what I think characterizes capitalist-oriented individuals versus what characterizes statist-oriented individuals, see Item No. 25 above.

I think that a Statist (socialist) is anyone who fundamentally, genuinely, and seriously thinks that the state (government or ruling group) must regulate, mandate, limit, and control individual and economic freedom, including a country’s economy (commerce, business, banking), from partial-to-total regulation and control – and that the state (government or ruling group) must also provide all the necessary things (whatever that means) for the lives of “its” citizenry. I think that a Statist (socialist) is fundamentally afraid of being independent, responsible for their own life, of providing for themselves, and of being self-reliant.

I believe that it is a Statist’s basic HATRED and FEAR of a self-determined, independent life that drives them and motivates them towards wanting, demanding, and supporting both a limited, restricted, regulated, and controlled society and economy, a statist-socialist society, and a statist-socialist government – meaning they want, demand, and support Statism (socialism). There exist all kinds, types, forms, levels, and extremes of Statists – from socialists, leftist-liberals, progressives, communists, Marxists, fascists, nationalists, environmentalists, religious radicals and theocrats, racists, multiculturalists, to even including the current 2008 U.S. Democrat Party, and many in the current 2008 U.S. Republican Party.

-- For an extended list of the types of statist social-political systems possible and the various ideologies behind them, see Items Nos. 9 and 10 above.

It is my opinion that a Statist (socialist) is fundamentally oriented towards, and supportive of, using coercive government (state) force against individual and economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, and an unregulated free-market economy.

It is my opinion that such statist-oriented and force-oriented individuals fear knowing anything about (so they avoid learning anything about) Individual Freedom and true Capitalism, and the necessary positive requirements for a limitless, prosperous human life, but instead that they focus on and know only of coercive Government Force and Control, and the negative enforced requirements for a limited, controlled human life. It is also my opinion that statist-oriented and force-oriented individuals deliberately ignore the disastrous consequences – all the misery, poverty, despair, and economic chaos and ruin – that Statism brings about, with all its coercive Government Force and Control against and over individual and economic freedom.

Fundamentally, I think statist-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and crony-capitalists are attracted to government interference, intimidation, manipulation, force, and control for their own irrational-selfish purposes (as opposed to individual rational-selfishness), and the only way for statist-oriented individuals to find meaning in life, and to “feel” a sense of control and power over reality and their empty, hollow inner-self, is by wielding and using government intimidation, manipulation, force, power, and control - meaning tyranny - against other free individuals and businesses.

It is my opinion that statist-oriented individuals fear and hate Individual Freedom and Capitalism because they fear and hate their own inner-self emptiness – because they fear and hate their own incompetence and inability in dealing with reality - and they come to envy (hate) free, confident individuals and the unregulated economic freedom that follows. Instead of dealing with their own shortcomings in a rational and positive manner, and recognizing and respecting the individual freedom of others and of businesses, they turn to government force and control – through taxation, regulation, mandates, dictates, restrictions, favoritism - to bring other individuals and businesses down to their own personal, miserable levels of emptiness, to try desperately to give themselves and their lives a sense of meaning, a sense of control, albeit false and pseudo in nature.

I think that statist-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and crony-capitalists know and recognize that statist-oriented governments are established and implemented ONLY for the purposes of using coercive government (state) force and control over individual and economic freedom. These same statist-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and crony-capitalists will do anything to maintain and preserve their own precarious political and/or government-backed economic power and control, as there is always some other Statist (private individual, politician, or crony capitalist) right “around the corner,” right behind them - who wants that same power and control – and wants it for no other purpose.

Statist-oriented governments – and all the statist-oriented individuals, politicians, government officials, and crony capitalists that support such governments - DO NOT favor, recognize, nor respect, NOR DO THEY CARE TO recognize, preserve, defend or protect individual or economic freedom, individual rights, property rights, derivative freedoms, or an unregulated free-market economy for any individual or business.

Individual and Economic Freedom (Capitalism) is very scary and threatening to Statists (socialists) - and they dread both like a plague, because it leaves them alone to have to face and deal directly with their own inner shortcomings, fears, hatreds, anger, and uncertainties about life and existence, towards other people, and including their own person. Collective Slavery and Economic Control (Statism), on the other hand, provides such people a social-political “tool” to use to cover-up their own inner fears, anger, and uncertainties they have against themselves, against other people, and against life (the world) itself – with the attempt, though shallow, to obtain some sort of meaning, group acceptance, group acknowledgment, pseudo self-esteem, or personal identity – all through the use of coercive government force and control against other individuals and the economy.

Also, Individual and Economic Freedom (Capitalism) is very scary and threatening to Statists (socialists) because under a true, capitalist social-political-economic system, they cannot intrude upon, infringe upon, violate, or control the freedoms and rights, including property rights, of other individuals and businesses through using coercive government force - in an attempt to avoid their own inner shortcomings and feelings of fear, hatred, and emptiness, and their own uncertainty about life in particular, or in their desire and attempt to force their irrational and intellectually-empty extended collectivist, socialist, and/or environmentalist ideals, agendas, and “social-engineering” programs.

However, Statism, meaning Collective Slavery and Economic Control through Coercive Government Force, allows them to do just that.

27. A Capitalist Mindset vs. A Statist Mindset

2008-10-12T15:57:00.005-04:00

I approach this posting by listing what I think are essential, crucial, and important life-approaching traits that tend to orient a person either towards a Capitalist Mindset, or orient a person towards a Statist Mindset. The traits of the Capitalist Mindset are listed first, followed by the traits of the Statist Mindset. The traits are numbered so that the lists can be compared to each other.

The TRAITS of the CAPITALIST MINDSET

Note: this is my own list and it is not associated with any professional works.

1- Reality and facts orientation
2- Reason, and Reason-guided Emotions orientation
3- Concepts and Ideas tied to, and conform with, reality (facts) orientation
4- Individual & Independent thinking/thought orientation
5- The “I” mentality orientation
6- Individual Rights & Property Rights orientation
7- Individual Freedom orientation
8- Laissez-faire Economic Freedom orientation
9- Wealth Production orientation
10- Wealth and Profit Admiration & Protection orientation
11- Private Property orientation
12- Pro-Man and Property Rights orientation
13- Freedom of all people and societies orientation
14- Private Voluntary Peaceful Cooperation orientation
15- Individualism orientation
16- Pursuit of a Strong, High Self-Esteem orientation
17- Rational Selfishness orientation (ref. Ayn Rand)
18- Self-reliance orientation
19- Self-responsibility orientation
20- Purposeful Action orientation
21- Sincerity and honesty towards others when mistaken ideas and actions are pointed out orientation
22- Responsible for one’s personal negative and/or irrational choices, actions, & shortcomings orientation
23- Sincerity in social relationships orientation
24- Respecting the Privacy of People’s Lives orientation
25- Protection of the Individual’s Right to His/Her Own Life orientation
26- Justice orientation
27- Motivation by Love orientation (ref. Ayn Rand)
28- Courage and Focus orientation
29- Solution orientation
30- “Eager Intelligence” (ref. Dr. George Reisman) orientation
31- Long-range Planning orientation
32- Economic Awareness, personal & overall orientation
33- Broad, full-context view of Economics orientation
34- “Full Context” orientation
35- Confronts facts orientation
36- Pursuit of Truth orientation
37- Inspiration orientation
38- Hope orientation
39- Independent-Rational Confidence orientation
40- Pursuing & Achieving Independent/Individualist-oriented Positive Goals and Happiness orientation

-- For a brief discussion by Any Rand on being motivated by love as opposed to being motivated by fear, see:
- Motivation by Love vs. by Fear at The Ayn Rand Lexicon, and
- Individualism at The Ayn Rand Lexicon.

-- Also, for a very insightful discussion regarding the relationship between psychology and a capitalist mindset, see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”

The TRAITS of the STATIST MINDSET

Note: this is my own list and it is not associated with any professional works.

1- “Social” or “Abstracts detached from facts” orientation
2- Irrational, Mysticism, and Emotion orientation
3- Concepts and Ideas detached, disconnected, and divorced from reality (facts) orientation
4- Collective and Group thinking/thought orientation
5- The “We” mentality orientation
6- Individual’s Life belongs to the State orientation
7- Government Collective Enslavement orientation
8- Government Controlled Economy orientation
9- Wealth Redistribution by Government orientation
10- Wealth and Profit Envy & Destruction orientation
11- Government Controlled Property orientation
12- Anti-Man and Socialism/Environmentalism orientation
13- Control over all people and societies orientation
14- State Forced Involuntary Association orientation
15- Collectivism and "Social Self-sacrifice" orientation
16- Self-Abasement orientation
17- Selflessness orientation (ref. Ayn Rand)
18- Dependency orientation
19- Irresponsibility orientation
20- Arbitrary Action orientation
21- Attack others, and engage in denial when their irrationalism, and mistaken ideas and actions are exposed orientation
22- Blaming others for one’s personal negative and/or irrational choices, actions, & shortcomings orientation
23- Manipulation in social relationships orientation
24- Disrespecting the Privacy of People’s Lives orientation
25- Forced Interference and Violation of the Individual’s Right to His/Her Own Life orientation
26- Appeasement orientation
27- Motivation by Fear orientation (ref. Ayn Rand)
28- Cowardice and Panic orientation
29- Crisis and Fear Mongering orientation
30- “Passive Stupidity” (ref. Dr. George Reisman) orientation
31- Short-term Planning orientation
32- Economic Ignorance, personal & overall orientation
33- Narrow, limited view of Economics orientation
34- “Context Dropping” orientation
35- Avoidance of facts, and avoidance of consequences orientation
36- Avoidance of Truth orientation
37- Hopelessness orientation
38- Despair orientation
39- Elitist-Righteous Arrogance orientation
40- Pursuing & Forcing Dependent/Collectivist-oriented Agenda and Avoiding Reality orientation

-- For a brief discussion by Any Rand on being motivated by love as opposed to being motivated by fear, see:
- Motivation by Love vs. by Fear at The Ayn Rand Lexicon, and
- Collectivism at The Ayn Rand Lexicon.

-- Also, for a very insightful discussion regarding the relationship between psychology and a statist mindset, see Dr. Edith Packer’s essay “The Psychological Requirements of a Free Society.”