(urth) Gene Wolfe Fans Talk Politics (Again)

[brunians at brunians.org]

>> Basically: the difference between a mostly functional police force and
>> a full-on social-services safety-net state is one of degree, not  kind.
>> And I hold that both those states are preferable to Somalia.

> There are a remarkable number of false dichotomies in this short blurb.
> Welfare states engage in far more than police service. If you were to
> declare that large cities should only provide a police force, fire
> fighters, and road maintenance, you'd find yourself voting in lock-step
> with Josh. So put aside those as a justification.

> If you really believe that a "full-on social-services safety-net state" is
> important you should be happy to fund it to the same degree as your fellow
> citizens and laborers. I agree that such a system could not be compared to
> "robbing from the rich to give to the poor."

Indeed.

The Mormons have an excellent (and voluntary) social welfare system, which
they pay for themselves, by tithing. I have often thought that something
of the kind could be adapted for people who would like this kind of
security and don't want to necessarily be Mormon.




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