This blog actually explains perfectly why I do not trust Libertarians... AT ALL.

AshleyO · 07-10-2012, 11:20 PM

crookedtimber.org/2012/07/01/let-it-bleed-libertarianism-and-the-workplace/

Holy god damned shit.

Just... fuck.

Acharis · 07-11-2012, 02:59 AM

Yeah. Not as up on the subtleties as I'd like to be, but most of what I've heard and read of Libertarianism seems to be a hot mess of doublethink and victim blaming.

Ayn Rand railed against Government assistance and then was forced to accept Medicare when she developed lung cancer*. Poverty is seen as the fault of the poor, and due to laziness rather than poverty traps or a misfortune that could happen to anybody. An acquaintance of mine with a monied family tries to dissociate himself from his privileged background but still preaches laissez faire politics and looks down on lower classes...

Horseshit all.

Back on topic, they did put it well. Sexual harassment and exploitative contracts are probably the clearest contradictions of their ideal of "freedom" through work, so maybe Libertarians only want freedom for the ones doing the cornholing.

* I'm aware Ayn Rand was an Objectivist, but lumping the two together is close enough for me at this point. Smells like the same shit with a different label.

AshleyO · 07-11-2012, 10:44 AM

Ayn Rand was forced to take Medicare?

Solumina · 07-11-2012, 11:47 AM

I don't know about being forced (unless realizing how fucking expensive cancer treatment is=force) but yes, I do believe that Ayn Rand accepted both Medicare and Social Security after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Acharis · 07-12-2012, 02:57 AM

Poor choice of words, I meant Ayn Rand was 'forced' by her illness to accept Government assistance. Because of how fucking expensive cancer treatment is, yes.

Though I could be a complete ass and say it was economic force driving her to that decision, which neither Objectivists nor Libertarians want the Government to protect citizens from - because it's not literal force in the form of physical aggression.

Hurr hurr

Solumina · 07-12-2012, 02:21 PM

I only made the distinction because she was already much better off than the average American so the pressure she felt is incomparable to what a poor, or even middle class, person would be under when faced with a serious medical condition, yet still to her it was enough to turn on everything she supposedly stood for.

Acharis · 07-13-2012, 01:01 AM

Yeah. I don't blame her for seeking help, but can only hope the reality was brought home to her about what her airy metaphysics meant in practice. I'm not sure if she was privileged or not... I read something about her fleeing Russia(?) while it was going really badly under Socialism but don't know if she was rich in America or not.

Sorry for jacking your thread AshleyO.

AshleyO · 10-21-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acharis

Yeah. I don't blame her for seeking help, but can only hope the reality was brought home to her about what her airy metaphysics meant in practice. I'm not sure if she was privileged or not... I read something about her fleeing Russia(?) while it was going really badly under Socialism but don't know if she was rich in America or not.

Sorry for jacking your thread AshleyO.

Badly for her, perhaps.

Miss Absynthe · 10-21-2012, 04:32 PM

I'm so very aware of how snarky this is going to sound.. but if you believe that health care should be available to those who can afford it, and you are then diagnosed with an illness that you can't afford to treat - you should either have the balls to face your illness without treatment, or you should be standing on the top of the highest mountain and declaring to all who will listen that you were wrong.

chu08 · 10-21-2012, 11:14 PM

I meant Ayn Rand was 'forced' by her illness to accept Government assistance. Replica Handbags And Shoes