Comments on: A better world http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/02/14/a-better-world/ Loving this country enough to leave it / Loving this country enough to save it Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:36:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: salmongirl73 http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/02/14/a-better-world/comment-page-1/#comment-109 salmongirl73 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:10:02 +0000 http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/?p=142#comment-109 You're getting closer to what I want. But what I want is nothing less than the utter collapse of the world's so-called "free economy" and its boosters, to be replaced by a truly free market. Here's a few more ideas: <b>Go off federal scrip.</b> The current fiat currency is worthless anyway, as world businessfolks are learning more every day.. There's a movement here in the Lehigh Valley to create a local currency, and this has been tried (and it succeeded) elsewhere, bit it's still fiat, paper, ultimately worthless. A well-supported circle of business leaders who deal only in this parallel, commodity-based currency would work, at least until the federals outlaw non-federal currency. But this would only work if we: <b>Only deal with other Objectivists.</b> The creation of a "Galt Stamp" certifying firms as Objectivist would ensure that any wealth created goes only to those who create it. By not dealing with concerns that kowtow to illegal federal mandates, or what I like to call the Mr. Mowens, it would strip the government of much of its power by denying it access to true wealth. <b>Restore state sovereignty.</b> Federal funds are being used as a bludgeon against cash-starved states. By convincing our respective state governments to not accept any federal loans or grants, to find the cash they need on their own or drop whatever they're trying to convince themselves is necessary, it will knock more teeth out of the leeches' mouths. A nice upshot of this would be less need for cash in Washington to dole out, and thus lower federal taxes. This would be a benefit to everyone in the States. But this issue and others like it have many complexities that need to be explored before a concerted effort would make any difference. We need to be smart about this. There's many more where these came from. In all honesty and seriousness, the only reason I'm here injecting ideas is that I don't relish the idea of living by myself in the middle of a Northwest forest or some barely arable Southwest desert, growing and finding and making everything I need to survive, like food, rope, gunpowder, and nail clippers. But that's the direction in which I am headed. This is the first group of people I have come across who could accomplish what I need. I am still of the opinion that current human society is too broken to be of use to me: a barely-living chimaera of productive effort and altruistic ideals, hating itself but not daring to admit to itself that it wants to die. I like high heels, pretty pink finger- and toe-nails, video games, steak, and going to the bar with friends for a few drinks. These are my values, but I will gladly pay them as the cost to gain my highest value: my own freedom. This is what each of you want as well, or you wouldn't be here. And that fact alone is what draws me here. If society collapses, or if I abandon it to its fate and live my life in solitude, I will lose more than just those simple luxuries. I will lose the support framework for my entire lifestyle, whereafter I will have to build a new lifestyle or perish in the attempt. But how does that old saying go? Oh yeah: Live Free or Die. You’re getting closer to what I want. But what I want is nothing less than the utter collapse of the world’s so-called “free economy” and its boosters, to be replaced by a truly free market. Here’s a few more ideas:

Go off federal scrip. The current fiat currency is worthless anyway, as world businessfolks are learning more every day.. There’s a movement here in the Lehigh Valley to create a local currency, and this has been tried (and it succeeded) elsewhere, bit it’s still fiat, paper, ultimately worthless. A well-supported circle of business leaders who deal only in this parallel, commodity-based currency would work, at least until the federals outlaw non-federal currency. But this would only work if we:
Only deal with other Objectivists. The creation of a “Galt Stamp” certifying firms as Objectivist would ensure that any wealth created goes only to those who create it. By not dealing with concerns that kowtow to illegal federal mandates, or what I like to call the Mr. Mowens, it would strip the government of much of its power by denying it access to true wealth.
Restore state sovereignty. Federal funds are being used as a bludgeon against cash-starved states. By convincing our respective state governments to not accept any federal loans or grants, to find the cash they need on their own or drop whatever they’re trying to convince themselves is necessary, it will knock more teeth out of the leeches’ mouths. A nice upshot of this would be less need for cash in Washington to dole out, and thus lower federal taxes. This would be a benefit to everyone in the States. But this issue and others like it have many complexities that need to be explored before a concerted effort would make any difference. We need to be smart about this.

There’s many more where these came from.

In all honesty and seriousness, the only reason I’m here injecting ideas is that I don’t relish the idea of living by myself in the middle of a Northwest forest or some barely arable Southwest desert, growing and finding and making everything I need to survive, like food, rope, gunpowder, and nail clippers. But that’s the direction in which I am headed. This is the first group of people I have come across who could accomplish what I need. I am still of the opinion that current human society is too broken to be of use to me: a barely-living chimaera of productive effort and altruistic ideals, hating itself but not daring to admit to itself that it wants to die.

I like high heels, pretty pink finger- and toe-nails, video games, steak, and going to the bar with friends for a few drinks. These are my values, but I will gladly pay them as the cost to gain my highest value: my own freedom. This is what each of you want as well, or you wouldn’t be here. And that fact alone is what draws me here. If society collapses, or if I abandon it to its fate and live my life in solitude, I will lose more than just those simple luxuries. I will lose the support framework for my entire lifestyle, whereafter I will have to build a new lifestyle or perish in the attempt. But how does that old saying go? Oh yeah: Live Free or Die.

]]> By: Nate http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/02/14/a-better-world/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Nate Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:48:55 +0000 http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/?p=142#comment-108 How about investing a small amount in late fees and penalties for a coordinated quarterly tax "holiday" as a warning? It is legal and it would only take two quarters to illustrate the concept to our "reps". Also- support is building for state sovereignty movements, repealing unconstitutional mandates and taxes from the federal govt. See Tenn.'s recent action here: http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/02/19/tennessee-sovereignty-resolution/ How about investing a small amount in late fees and penalties for a coordinated quarterly tax “holiday” as a warning? It is legal and it would only take two quarters to illustrate the concept to our “reps”.
Also- support is building for state sovereignty movements, repealing unconstitutional mandates and taxes from the federal govt. See Tenn.’s recent action here:

http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/02/19/tennessee-sovereignty-resolution/

]]> By: John http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/02/14/a-better-world/comment-page-1/#comment-107 John Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:56:41 +0000 http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/?p=142#comment-107 Well, sorta. You know... forget it. Like I said, these were off the cuff :-) . The first idea was better anyway. (My natural tendency to argue is driving me to defend the idea, but I myself have greater reservations are about the centralization of authority involved in such a formalized union.) Well, sorta. You know… forget it. Like I said, these were off the cuff :-) . The first idea was better anyway. (My natural tendency to argue is driving me to defend the idea, but I myself have greater reservations are about the centralization of authority involved in such a formalized union.)

]]> By: Dave http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/02/14/a-better-world/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Dave Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:44:32 +0000 http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/?p=142#comment-103 Supporting people to do nothing won't work. In falls into the same problems that occur when the government does the same thing: it attracts lazy people who would not otherwise be productive anyway. For instance, I'm sure there are a lot of execs at AIG and Citigroup that would love to be paid to not produce right now. In Atlas Shrugged, "Going John Galt" worked because the producers actually had to cut themselves off from the main economy. They weren't subsidized to do nothing. They simply had a parallel economy. Supporting people to do nothing won’t work. In falls into the same problems that occur when the government does the same thing: it attracts lazy people who would not otherwise be productive anyway. For instance, I’m sure there are a lot of execs at AIG and Citigroup that would love to be paid to not produce right now.

In Atlas Shrugged, “Going John Galt” worked because the producers actually had to cut themselves off from the main economy. They weren’t subsidized to do nothing. They simply had a parallel economy.

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