Reply #75: It just scares me... [View All]

[SlipperySlope]

When I look at proposals like this, I always imagine a scenario along these lines. First, a wise and peaceful government is given certain powers to keep the peace. Then the public gets lazy, and fails to elect a wise government, and tyrants slip in. Then I imagine what tyrants could do with the powers that had been granted to a more benevolent government.

I believe there is an ebb and flow in the world. I believe that tyrants will come and go. I believe that the best way to deal with tyrants is to insure that when they do come into power, their ability to do damage is limited by limiting their powers.

Once you give one government the power to force people to volunteer labor for public service for the good of the community, I fear a later government can force people to "volunteer" their labor to different tasks "for the good of the community".

Put differently, how would you feel if TODAY's administration had the power to:
+ determine what social message schools would teach
+ determine what labor people would be required to do

That would be terrifying.