DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COLLECTIVISTS AND INDIVIDUALISTS

http://www.freedom-force.org ^

[tpaine]

"- One of the primary functions of just government is to protect each individual from the greed and passion of the majority. -"

Not only 'greed and passion'; our Constitution is set up to protect us from the ordinary schemes of local tyrants using 'community values' to deprive us of life, liberty, or property. - It is being ignored.

[facedown]

bump

[mjp]

The principles of good: reason, individualism, personal independence,rational impartial egoism,limited government

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

“6. A collectivist believes government should be an aggressive force for solving problems, providing sustenance, and directing human activities. That government is best which governs most.

An individualist believes government should be a defensive and protective force, limited to safeguarding the lives, liberty, and property of its citizens. That government is best which governs least.”

BINGO

Good words. Our government has seriously strayed from our individualist baseline.

[MtnClimber]

Good post

[Lusis]

I know for a fact that many people who support collectivists would read this and think they are individualists. The sad fact is that these days, the hyperbole and rhetoric is so bad that people can't even tell when they're deceiving themselves. To them, laws aimed at gays, women, and minorities is supporting individual rights.

“The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.” -- Thomas Sowell

[gcruse]

“2. A collectivist believes the state may perform acts that are forbidden to individuals.

An individualist believes the state may do only what individuals have a right to do. “

You might want to rethink that one, unless you believe individuals should be able to imprison/execute others, print money, collect taxes... you get the idea.

[tpaine]

Thanks for the comments yall.

[Excellence]

Where, exactly, on the website is this list please?

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

And that is the difference between the dems and normal people.

[call meVeronica]

Bump for later

[tpaine]

I know for a fact that many people who support collectivists would read this and think they are individualists.

Yep, we see them posting here everyday. They truly believe that unlimited majority rule is a 'republican form of government'.

The sad fact is that these days, the hyperbole and rhetoric is so bad that people can't even tell when they're deceiving themselves. To them, laws aimed at gays, women, and minorities is supporting individual rights.

Prohibitive laws 'aimed' at minorities by majorities are almost always unconstitutional.

"The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling." -- Thomas Sowell

Great line. Thanks.

[tpaine]

2. A collectivist believes the state may perform acts that are forbidden to individuals.
An individualist believes the state may do only what individuals have a right to do.

You might want to rethink that one, unless you believe individuals should be able to imprison/execute others, print money, collect taxes... you get the idea.

Well, before governments, individuals were able to imprison/execute their enemies, use anything for 'money' [shells/beads etc], demand/collect fees from their neighbors for services rendered [taxes]... you get the idea.

[gcruse]

” An individualist believes the state ...”

This posits the existence of a government, so using pre-government activities in defending it sort of begs the question.

[Lusis]

"Prohibitive laws 'aimed' at minorities by majorities are almost always unconstitutional".

Laws are one thing, individuals choosing their preferences is another. We can repeal the first, but it is wrong and against individual rights to make the latter illegal.

[Jack Black]

ping

[Lusis]

One more thing...

Yep, we see them posting here everyday. They truly believe that unlimited majority rule is a 'republican form of government'.

And what about those who think that the government forbidding a businessman from hiring workers in another country is not tyranny and contrary to a free market?

[RightWhale]

The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.

Sowell is sort of on the right track, but he is not speaking from the intellectual level. Actually, in terms of the latest (since 1890) scientific and artificial intelligence engineering thinking he is exactly backwards.

[Oberon]

I got a quibble with this one:

2. A collectivist believes the state may perform acts that are forbidden to individuals.

An individualist believes the state may do only what individuals have a right to do.

My quibble is that the maintenance of a system of justice is a legitimate function of government, up to and including capital punishment for capital crimes. I don't believe that function can be legitimately fulfilled by the individual.

I believe that my perspective on the matter agrees with that of our country's founders. That's a tough one for me to swallow, because in all other respects I'm an individualist.