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Many years ago, in the early 2000s something occurred to me. Neither of the two major political movements in the US actually seek solutions to the issues that divide the people. At the time I thought libertarianism was really libertinism. There is a strain of that in the liberty movement but its far from the core ideal. While I don't call myself a libertarian there was a time when I did. The interesting thing was that I wasn't really "converted". It was more like I started realizing I already agreed with many of their ideals and just had no idea there was a group with which I had so much in common.
When it comes to seeking solutions not much has changed. Both parties and their masses seem to have zero interest in solutions. Only power and exercising it as they see fit. What do I mean by solutions? Well, when you and I want to go eat somewhere we have free choice. I can go to In-n-Out and you can go to McDonald's. Neither of us is forced to spend our cash on food we don't want.
Back in the day I would hear people arguing about various issues and unlike many of my peers I actually wanted to understand both sides. It became clear to me that I could see legit reasons for each side. It wasn't like math. It was largely preference. In my pre-libertarian phase I started to think that the solution when there was some government function that could not be agreed upon, maybe it should be privatized. Then each person could decided to either support it, or not support it. Seemed logical to me at the time. Honestly, it still does.
With USAID, many of the programs that have been cut are far from vital to most people's lives. In some cases the programs are things people find morally wrong. It isn't hard to find government activities that people find morally wrong. I can see no reason why these programs cannot be privately funded. If there is so much opposition to their removal surely this can be done.
It seems to me that this doesn't take a lot of mental energy. If I could come up with this as a young man working a blue collar job surely the high minded intellectuals are capable of doing the same. I am left with this conclusion. They know this and don't care. They want power. They want to tax the people. They want high positions. And for the political figures, they want conflict because that gives them power and helps them raise funds. The incentives are not aligned with solutions. They are aligned with conflict.
You'd be surprised how little the average person thinks about social dynamics and incentive structures.
It's one of the most frustrating and discouraging things. Even people I've met who are very capable, intelligent, good at their jobs... barely thinks at all about incentives within society and how that leads to different outcomes.
I really don't know why that is. Like you said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to think these things through.
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Honestly, once I realized solutions aren't the goal it simplified my view of politics.
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Not sure if you saw this post, but it's highly related: #922032
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At a certain point motives don't matter. Or at least they are besides the point. I can list subjects on the right and left where this applies.
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I did see it and I'm pretty sympathetic with "The Purpose of a System is What It Does". I mean, it often makes people angry when you say the Constitution was a failure if you believe it was designed to restrain the federal government. But, if you believe the purpose of the Constitution was do to do what it did, it was a success.
Most conservatives love the Constitution yet it has failed to prevent the right to bear arms, free speech, and many other rights.
If I apply the statement to democracy then I would have to say that the purpose of democracy is to divide the masses and allow the elite to do what they want to do.
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You'd be surprised how little the average person thinks about social dynamics and incentive structures.
I'm not. I've thought about this for most of my adult life and had many conversations with people all over the political spectrum. Not much surprises me any more.
My theory on why people don't think about incentives or high level society issues is simple. Most people really mostly think of themselves and their immediate needs. I don't just mean people are selfish, though we are. I just mean that the average person just isn't wired to think that way.
I think "The Righteous Mind" is a helpful book on this topic.
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Yeah, I should read that. I haven't read any of Jonathan Haidt's books but they seem like worthwhile reads.
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Its the only book of his I've read. I was highly recommended to me many years ago and its very interesting and I would argue it is helpful. Viewing the right and left as enemies is the wrong take.
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I thought this was going to be about the "activism becomes industry" insight.
Groups that fundraise on a problem have the most incentive to keep that problem around.
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Yeah, that's a thing and it was a part of me seeing this many years ago. Examples were abortion and gay marriage. Huge money makers for both sides of each topic.
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It's as if to be a libertarian you have to lock yourself in your cave and growl at any other human being who comes across your fence. And in fact we need this social interaction and to stay connected, just like it is today in our daily social interactions.
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I'm not sure how this comment is relevant?
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I took a bit of the post and a bit of the answer. It was more of a general observation, it's up to whoever reads it, sorry guys.
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The deal is "We'll force our people to pay for your dumb shit, if you force your people to pay for ours."
One of the reasons decentralization (including all the way down to the individual) is so preferable, is that people are not forced to support nearly as many things that they don't want.
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Exactly
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When they can't create problems to sell solutions, they take the most diverse problems and compulsorily collect our "incentives" to finance everything we don't want.
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stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.