FreedomPatriot @[email protected]

I grew up in the rugged mountains of West Virginia. Hunting, fishing and camping. Loved camping in the cold snow and hunting deer. No tent, just a good bag or bed roll, a fire and canvas tarp. Good times. I thank the good Lord because he let me grow up in those mountains.

@h4890 @freepatriot

He's talking about within a country.

Is it markets, or technology, that improves the lives of so many?

In my view, the cumulative nature of technology began under the aristocrats and would not have without them.

Capitalism does a great job of economies of scale, which drives down costs and raises quality over time with competition, given an intelligent enough population.

This is why Leftists attack intelligence. It is easier to rule morons.

@h4890 @freepatriot

In my view, this is the future of work.

No benefits, no permanent jobs, just hourly contracting.

It avoids the problem of people just going through the motions and then feeling (partially correctly) enslaved by this.

Jobs are jails.

@h4890 @freepatriot

I would add here, waxing a bit pagan or Anglican perhaps, that individuals cannot invent goal/meaning since such things are at least derived from or dependent upon the world.

@h4890 @freepatriot

Either that, or libertarianism is an ingredient in successful societies.

We can summarize it simply: no socialism.

@h4890 @freepatriot

In my view, liberty/freedom is a means not an end.

That is, people thrive better in a state of as much freedom/liberty as you can give them.

To the founding fathers in the USA, "freedom" meant not being roped into someone else's religious or political crusades.

The American war for independence can be seen as an extended protest against the wars in France...

@h4890 @freepatriot

Or I think what your gut tells you:

* Monarchy
* Zero socialism
* Culture
* Few laws

Cutting red tape and dependency ends most of the problems; you still need a social direction or things fall apart, and only culture can do that.

Then you need to stop the self-manipulation echo chamber feedback loop of democracy, oligarchy, et al.

After that... you have made a new world, simply by cutting out bits from the old.... and cutting out the bloated, parasitic, and dysfunctional bits of the old.

@h4890 @freepatriot

I always liked the seasteading idea, if you could find an area of calm seas.

@h4890 @freepatriot

Meaning occurs in groups as well as in individuals.

Individualists do not agree of course.

People as a group need purpose and direction or you get tragedy of the commons.

Culture is quite important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBBmPmMKog

Our recent discussion was about this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq0ivv4Grdk

Sounds lovely, all of that is illegal where I grew up 😂

@monarchist @freepatriot That's the only asymmetrical way for a small nation to exist. Black mail, that is, having 0% taxes and banks allowing anonymous customers, in the hope of attracting leading western politicians, and then blackmail them, is probably the most realistic way.

The only other way, that can be done as we speak, is the digital nomad, roaming from country to country, while being taxed in no country, or if you're wealthy buy a yacht.

The sci-fi angle might work when we can

@monarchist @freepatriot mine the oceans, or live comfortably in the antarctic, alternatively, bribe/force your way in a tiny third world country. But you need to be a billionaire to do that.

@monarchist @freepatriot Well, I disagree with plato. Today we have massive disagreement on goals between the 200 or so countries that exist, and money and markets, have been one of mankinds best and most powerful inventions, that provably have improved the lives of billions.

I think this is Platos upper class upbringing that is shining through here. But I do agree that an important factor here is stability. Or rather, can lack of stability be had, while still having peace?

@monarchist @freepatriot The thing is... todays options are so bad, that even though many disagree with you, I think many would actually prefer your way than todays way in the end.

1-4 any libertarian would agree with, and even 5, they would, although 5 is by nature not well specified.