Tens of thousands rally against Czech government

[archipirata]

"Unions, pensioners, student associations and others angered by austerity cuts..."

http://news.yahoo.com/tens-thousands-ral...23744.html

Really hard for me to feel sorry for these folks. Anyone who actually believes that government can take care of them or make their lives better over the long term is either in denial or doesn't understand basic economics. Anytime a politician says they can give you something and have it cost less, they are lying. Politicians do everything they can to hide the real cost of the votes they buy with their promises. But those costs will inevitable come back to destroy these societies. If you have ever cast a vote based on what a politician says they will give or provide to a group of people (the elderly, workers, children, the poor, etc,) then you have bought into the lie and deserve what you get. When will we learn?

[rjmacs]

archipirata wrote:
"Unions, pensioners, student associations and others angered by austerity cuts..."

http://news.yahoo.com/tens-thousands-ral...23744.html

Really hard for me to feel sorry for these folks. Anyone who actually believes that government can take care of them or make their lives better over the long term is either in denial or doesn't understand basic economics. Anytime a politician says they can give you something and have it cost less, they are lying. Politicians do everything they can to hide the real cost of the votes they buy with their promises. But those costs will inevitable come back to destroy these societies. If you have ever cast a vote based on what a politician says they will give or provide to a group of people (the elderly, workers, children, the poor, etc,) then you have bought into the lie and deserve what you get. When will we learn?

So, is the solution is to privatize publicly held assets, reduce regulation, erode the rights of workers, cut giant holes in safety nets, and generally accommodate those who have the most at the expense of those who have the least?

I think that sounds immoral, whether it's the most 'efficient' model or not. Yet that is precisely what 'austerity measures' and 'market liberalization' mean.

[archipirata]

As far as 'privatize publicly held assets, reduce regulation" I would say yes. The less in the hands of the government, the better. As far as worker's rights, I am not sure what rights you are referring to. Would that be the "rights" of workers to have others forced to join their union just to get a job, even if they want to have nothing to do with a union. Or the worker's "right" to have the government set their wages regardless of wether or not they are merited. Or the worker's "right" to have a legislated monopoly on government jobs for union members only. These seem pretty immoral to me. As far as the government safety net is concerned, our current system is an entire sham. Every year we spend more and more money and a higher percentage of our GDP on this so called "safety net" and guess what, the poverty rate has not gone down by a single percentage point since 1966 (US Census data). No sir, I simply want a government where everyone is equal under the law (black, white, old, young, worker, business owner, etc) and all interactions are voluntary instead of at the point of a gun. I want a system where no one is FORCED to do anything.

[archipirata]

Plus, please don't get me wrong. I would love it if we could have unlimited resources, no diseases, and everyone happy. Unlike socialists however, I don't believe it can or should be brought about at gunpoint.

I am a very giving person who donates to charity and does a lot of volunteer work. My only problem comes when someone wants to use force to MAKE me do it against my will.

[rjmacs]

You've explained your positions clearly, and i'm satisfied that they say enough to illustrate how differently we see the world. Thanks!

[Spock]

"To those who have much, much will be given. To those who little, much will be taken".

Trickle down ... I don't F'n think so.

[Rolando]

archipirata wrote:
"Unions, pensioners, student associations and others angered by austerity cuts..."

http://news.yahoo.com/tens-thousands-ral...23744.html

Really hard for me to feel sorry for these folks. Anyone who actually believes that government can take care of them or make their lives better over the long term is either in denial or doesn't understand basic economics. Anytime a politician says they can give you something and have it cost less, they are lying. Politicians do everything they can to hide the real cost of the votes they buy with their promises. But those costs will inevitable come back to destroy these societies. If you have ever cast a vote based on what a politician says they will give or provide to a group of people (the elderly, workers, children, the poor, etc,) then you have bought into the lie and deserve what you get. When will we learn?

They tried that in the early 40s, didn't work out so well for them.

[RgrF]

archipirata wrote:
"Unions, pensioners, student associations and others angered by austerity cuts..."

http://news.yahoo.com/tens-thousands-ral...23744.html

Really hard for me to feel sorry for these folks. Anyone who actually believes that government can take care of them or make their lives better over the long term is either in denial or doesn't understand basic economics. Anytime a politician says they can give you something and have it cost less, they are lying. Politicians do everything they can to hide the real cost of the votes they buy with their promises. But those costs will inevitable come back to destroy these societies. If you have ever cast a vote based on what a politician says they will give or provide to a group of people (the elderly, workers, children, the poor, etc,) then you have bought into the lie and deserve what you get. When will we learn?

That may or may not be so in a poor country like the Chez Republic.

In well-to-do republics like the US that's simply not the case. Right wing commentators here have no problem blaming the "(the elderly, workers, children, the poor, etc,)" without once mentioning the Pentagon or private sector contractors who suck up more public money than the poor ever will.