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The Libertarian Society of TSR.

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Reply 80
tis_me_lord
Well obviously I'm against wasted taxation (who isn't), but I've always thought that tax is worthwhile as long as it's paying for good schools, hospitals, police etc... I'm not sombody who's into economics, and I've never done politics either so this is a bit foreign to me.


Ah, but largely it isn't. For all the money that actually goes towards helping anyone a huge proportion is wasted. Look at the Scottish Parliament building - Β£450 million - ten times over budget almost - for something that no-one even needed. Or that 'Icons of England' website that cost them Β£2 million - and was crap too.


But with schools I know I'm against private schooling because I don't believe the rich have the right to a better education, so I want that state owned. Would health etc not be the same?


While I support a general equalising of opportunity - everyone should be taught to read etc - I don't believe that you can stop the rich getting a better education etc. For example, banning private education sounds easy enough - but what about children who get private tutors and governesses, what about children who have more books in their home. Or what about the poor child whose father read to them every night as opposed to the rich one who was put in front of a TV and learned nothing?

You can't remove inequality like that - however you'll find people who are going to be successful have a habit of being able to overcome adversity, it's very difficult to keep some of them down.

My mum was at a private hospital once and she complained she was trated badly and the owners of it (black) gave black patients special treatment and trated white people badly. If everything was private maybe waste would be reduced but then it's difficult to check up on it.

Healthcare has the advantage of doctors being professionally bound to treat everyone equally. Paying for operations etc would however come into it - but I believe that can be accomodated in a fairer way than the present system.

Though I also saw something recently about police corruption, despite our 30p per day tax for the police they manage to ignre what really matters e.g. rape cases to play hide and seek in police cars, gamble and play cricket, and this is more than the odd exception! So I guess you get problems with checking up on state owned structures as well.


Yes, they totally lack any incentive to perform well. Look at the levels of public disorder these days.

I know I'm going back and forth here, but overall the goverment isn't exactly charging an arm and a leg in taxation.


You think so? Up to forty percent when you earn money, up to twenty percent on interest payments on that money, 17.5% on everything you buy, 40% when you die (above limits admittedly). In some areas, government expenditure accounts for three-quarters of all economic activity. You don't think that's an arm and a leg?

At the height of the Roman Empire taxes were 1-2% of income and even then only the richest paid them... and people complained. Taxes now are at virtually communist levels - while, surprisingly, more and more people end up on government support etc. I can't recall who said it, but apparently the best way to stay in government is to make the majority a direct financial beneficiary of it.

This however is reliance on an outside body and I, as a human being with self respect, do not want to get into that situation. Ever.

I think it's probably better to keep things state controlled but look in detail into each one and try to reduce bureaucracies.


No one will because no one has to. Meanwhile middle managers in the NHS are busy spending their budgets on unnecessary tat so that it doesn't get cut the next year...


I'm suprised people in this thread are willing to compromise civil rights to slightly lower taxes, to me the priority is completly the opposite. I would rather be taxed moderatly and be free to be gay if I wished to be than taxed low and forced into being hetrosexual.


Um, I'm not sure what you're talking about here. Libertarians believe absolutely in human rights - which is why we're against taxation, the right to enjoyment of our own property, the right to decide what's best for us, the right to choose. There's no Libertarian on earth who'd deny the right to be gay - or indeed any other right.


Isn't this capitialism? :confused:


Yes, Libertarianism entails capitalism. Free markets and all that.
I'd like to encourage all Libertarians to get out and vote at the TSR General Election:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=222708
Reply 82
Libertarians,

If there are any of you here who have yet to vote in the TSR election then please register your vote for the new Libertarian Party. We're hoping to get a few seats in our first election to build a strong platform.

TSR General Election vote.

Thanks!
Anth

Edit: sorry didn't see your post there gideon :P
Reply 83
Im libertarian,

so long as the banks are controlled by government, and not the situation which we have at the moment where they are controlled by private interests.
Reply 84
If you're a Libertarian then please, make sure you vote for us in the TSR election; we're going to need your vote!!!

Also note that if you voted 4+ days ago, a REVOTE has since been called, and in order for your vote to count- you will need to vote in this one:

REVOTE.

Cheers,
Anth
Reply 85
Wow, this soc is like a list all the arguments I've had with my economics teacher. I hadn't heard about Libertarianism before but agree with almost all the libertarian views
Reply 86
Hi libertarians!

You may want to see this video clip from Columbia Business School (CBS):

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1124254569250171465&q=every+breath+you+take
Reply 87
But desiring redistribution of wealth is a socialist ideal

So David Cameron is a socialist now? :p:
Reply 88
Yes!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=245604

Anyone interested in the ideas of Rand and/or Objectivism, please sign up!
Additionally, should one be allowed to fund/invest in e.g. Hamas-led P.A.?


Why the heck not?!

In a market anarchy, fund ANY group you want. From scouts to a trade union to white supremacists.

This is acceptable because it's private funding. Those opposed to it would only go after the funders and NOT any government.
Reply 91
robinson
Hi libertarians!

You may want to see this video clip from Columbia Business School (CBS):

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1124254569250171465&q=every+breath+you+take


Haha, thanks for posting that video- great stuff! :rofl:
What is the libertarian view on the media and newspapers and such, and their responsibility to the public? When reporting individual's details with things like drug use and the names of people suspecting of crimes (whether or not they're actually prosecuted or not)...
Good question; Personally, I don't see any media outlet as having "responsibility to the public", short of inciting violence. The media should, however be allowed to print the pictures that were recently seen of Muhammed without fear of reprisal. Lying in the media would be dealt with by the courts, as the idea of libel-cases would still be around. As long as the newspaper accruately prints information about suspected criminals, that's fine. However, a headline which says "This yob is a grave-smasher!" without having been through the court system would be clearly false, and the medias legal position would be greatly compromised. Essentially, a free-for-all (As much as I hate using that phrase) as long as lying is not present. We believe that the media in all but the most extreme cases in self-regulating.
What's a Libertarian's stance on Immigration and Multiculturalism, may i ask?

I believe Freedom is deserved by all people, but must also be earnt through responsibility. It's ok to suggest we should all do as we like and be free, but apart from Individualism, We have a responsibility to the community and our people as a whole with regard to the future.
_jackofdiamonds
What is the libertarian view on the media and newspapers and such, and their responsibility to the public? When reporting individual's details with things like drug use and the names of people suspecting of crimes (whether or not they're actually prosecuted or not)...


It differs.

Some libertarians believe in total freedom of speech. If newspapers want to defame, then they should be permitted to. The check would be the consumer voting with their feet, or shunning and ostracising people who make offensive or objectionable comments.

Others reckon that newspapers should be constrained by defamation laws and can't literally say anything.
Dalendless Shid
What's a Libertarian's stance on Immigration and Multiculturalism, may i ask?


Most libertarians believe in open borders. This means that there should be no immigration controls or quotas at all.

Some believe that open borders is misguided, since it may allow people who share no affinitiy with liberty, hence undermining the libertarian society.

Personally I believe in open borders. Once the welfare state is abolished, then immigrants would have no means to scrounge from the state.

As for multiculturalism, well what about it? Live any culture you want. Just don't initiate force or fraud against someone else's person or property.
Reply 97
I am in support of a points-based system- I doubt many libertarians believe in 'open borders' with 'no immigration controls at all' tbh, thats just completely impracticable.
ForeverIsMyName
We believe that the media in all but the most extreme cases in self-regulating.

that's a strong statement if ever i heard one, what are the extreme cases? the ones which aren't self regulating? that's a bit like saying "Y is true... except when it's not."
Beekeeper
I am in support of a points-based system- I doubt many libertarians believe in 'open borders' with 'no immigration controls at all' tbh, thats just completely impracticable.

why? don't be silly. the nation state is gone under libertarianism, there is no such thing as society, certainly not 'society's good.' you couldn't possibly argue that it might undermine economic stability or labour market health because the entire point is that the market is free to reign.

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