The Philosophy of a True Conservative, Today

[piercehawkeye45]

I have wondered for a while why computer programmers have such a high proportion of libertarians/conservatives?

[Adak]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

I have wondered for a while why computer programmers have such a high proportion of libertarians/conservatives?

Because they're smart!

Seriously, liberals are naive and simple. They think people are always going to do the right things, act in the best way, etc.
That's unrealistic, and as you get older, you learn just HOW unrealistic it is to rely on that kind of philosophy.

One example is Senator Dianne Feinstein, from CA. She was a liberal, and still tries to be one, but she was nearly killed in the Jimmy Jones Guyana kool-aid incident, years ago. She was also there when Harvey Milk (the Mayor of SF), was assassinated. Also, her husband and home have had some serious security issues, from criminals.

SO, now she supports gun control laws - but she herself HAS A PERMIT FOR A CONCEALED FIREARM, and carries a pistol.
THAT is the kind of hypocrite that is all too common, in our leaders today.

"I'll make laws so YOU can't carry a gun, but I will carry a gun. Clearly, I need one, and you are too" stupid/careless/etc.

Gotta love the bald faced hypocrisy there!

Clearly, Diannne Feinstein has learned the hard way, that liberals are too simple, and too willing to trust in the great goodness of others.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Adak

Because they're smart!

Seriously, liberals are naive and simple. They think people are always going to do the right things, act in the best way, etc.

.

Unlike conservatives who think business should be able to operate unrestricted, reliant entirely on the civic mindedness of the business elite to prevent abuses.

[Adak]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Unlike conservatives who think business should be able to operate unrestricted, reliant entirely on the civic mindedness of the business elite to prevent abuses.

Nobody supports unrestricted business or markets! But we need to limit those restrictions - otherwise you simply have very few businesses, and very little competition or innovation.

What you think might be good tight regulation, will result in excellent monopolies by the few businesses that will remain.

More regulation, comes with a cost - it's not free to the consumer, or to the business being regulated. Who pays for these added regulations, ultimately?

You and me - the consumer.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Adak

Nobody supports unrestricted business or markets!
But we need to limit those restrictions - otherwise you simply have very few businesses, and very little competition or innovation.

who and how decides the limits?

Originally Posted by Adak

What you think might be good tight regulation, will result in excellent monopolies by the few businesses that will remain.

This is in no way the only outcome, not even the most likely outcome. Witness the recent rejection of the attempted merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. Regulators, enforcing regulations, prevented further consolidation.

Business wants to make money, it is their biological imperative. Laws, ethics, regulations, etc, these are obstacles to one degree or another in the pursuit of profit.

Originally Posted by Adak

More regulation, comes with a cost - it's not free to the consumer, or to the business being regulated. Who pays for these added regulations, ultimately?

You and me - the consumer.

businesses have costs--labor, materials, energy, transportation, etc, etc. Who bears those costs? Who bears the costs of the degradation of the environment by a given industry, polluters for example?

[regular.joe]

Originally Posted by Adak

Nobody supports unrestricted business or markets! But we need to limit those restrictions - otherwise you simply have very few businesses, and very little competition or innovation.

What you think might be good tight regulation, will result in excellent monopolies by the few businesses that will remain.

More regulation, comes with a cost - it's not free to the consumer, or to the business being regulated. Who pays for these added regulations, ultimately?

You and me - the consumer.

Really depends on what we regulate. Mostly what needs to be regulated is the negative effect of greed, and morally reprehensible business practices..etc...

I've been to countries with very small if any real government. No pesky regulations or enforcement by the government in business. I've seen people grind red brick into red pepper to help "maximize profits", oh, then sold this to aid workers giving food to people assed out because of flooding on a Biblical scale. Some other people in a different area were doing the same thing with chalk and flour...for the same target population. Who pays for regulation? Who pays for lack of regulation? I guess it depends on our out look. Just want more profit at any cost? Then the consumer pays in more ways then money.

Our own country has seen this in the banking/home finance industry. A few hundred million dollars for a very small population, again maximizing profits, who quite frankly does not give a shit about billions of dollars in effects for our nation to pay for this greed and lack of principled business practices.

I've been across our country two or three times in the past year. Just got back from DC. My freedoms have never been infringed, not once. I vote, I travel where ever I like, I buy what I want (can afford), I speak my mind and my heart with out fear. I read what I like, can publish just about anything that is not slanderous. No one is coming to my door to enter my home with out permission. If I get pulled over for a speeding ticket and the police ask me how fast I was going, I ask if I can have my lawyer present during questioning. I keep a 7MM Magnum long rifle, a .22 rifle, and a .22 pistol in my man cave. I have a CC licence, but rarely carry my choice.

I am very curious what freedoms you have had infringed by government regulation?