Libertarianism and being Jedi

So, let's talk about [Libertarianism] and being a Jedi. What do you think about the free market economy and how does it morally, or otherwise affect the lives of Jedi?

EDIT: Brenna, yes, I wanted to focus on specific parts though. Mostly, the libertarian aspects and the American Dream in regards to money and society.

Didnt we just have two threads in the last couple weeks discussing this?


LOVE the picture by the way :woohoo:



EDIT - Um, ok now that youve changed the original title and the question my comment doesnt make any sense!!


I dont know that I have a lot to contribute, economics is really not something I know a great deal about, but, I find the idea of the "American Dream" vs the way America seems to be vs Libertarianism a bit odd.

Again, Im not sure im on the right track when I say this, but Americas liberty seems incredibly tightly controlled. And from what I know of America there is an underlying culture of not taking personal responibility. Where as libertarianism advocates the concept of personal liberty and responsibility and is as far as I cant tell a philosophical approach not an ecomonic one. Maybe im just lost but im not quite sure how it ties in with economic policy?

* note - I may need some educating in this department. Not my strong point!

May i ask, is this in relation to the comments in your journal on winning and that link you provided with the "rules"

Yes, it is. But, I hope we can keep that... on the down low.

I post things in the Apprentice section for a very specific reason.

Anyway, America's liberty IS very tightly controlled. Capitalism is very limiting by thinking that competition leads to the best product and the best prices. Which, it is true. At the same time, Libertarianism thinks our "capitalist" economy doesn't go far enough. Libertarians believe that there should be unrestricted and deregulated competition. You know how we have laws preventing monopolies? Libertarians want to rid that.

unrestricted freedom... is accepting that somebody may get to the top and remove your freedom to choose. It becomes... self-defeating in a way, yeah?

In cooperation with economic policy, Libertarianism says that the government should remove itself from economic dealings, except in international affairs. National affairs should be handled by states.

statistics show that the USA is the least free country in the world.

-Highest incarceration rate in the world
-Death penalty (in some states) means if "justice" makes a mistake, it cannot revert the harshest punishment it dispenses and is therefore by definition unjust.


If I were american, I couldnt care less whether corporations (which really should have less rights than your common bacteria) are free to do as they wish or not. I'd be worried about my own freedom and being manipulated, used and abused by the people I pay to serve me.


Libertarianism is about self-determination of the people. the people's economic self-determination is, first of all, only one very small part of libertarianism, and second of all still about the people, not about the corporations that control the people (which is anti-libertarian).

okay, that makes sense. Thanks for that.

Competition leads to the best products and best prices. Yes, it seems to. But I wonder at what cost. For instance. you have two manufactures creating the same product. In order to compete with the other, one has to lower the cost of its product, which means a lowering of the cost of production. Ways to lower the cost of production is to use cheaper materials, or cheaper labour.

Cheaper materials often translates into a lower quality product, and cheaper labour means paying people less for the same work or sending manufacture elsewhere where cheaper labour is permissible.

This may make more money, but I dont see how its better.


Is libertarianism a way to justify the idea that you should be free to do as you please economically and not have any kind of legal restriction?

ren wrote: Libertarianism is about self-determination of the people. the people's economic self-determination is, first of all, only one very small part of libertarianism, and second of all still about the people, not about the corporations that control the people (which is anti-libertarian).

As a libertarian, I know this. However, Libertarianism is also a tool used by companies to lobby for deregulation. To see why is very easy.

Brenna wrote: Is libertarianism a way to justify the idea that you should be free to do as you please economically and not have any kind of legal restriction?

Yes.

Connor Lidell wrote:

Brenna wrote: Is libertarianism a way to justify the idea that you should be free to do as you please economically and not have any kind of legal restriction?

Yes.

And this is a good and ethical thing?

The only ethical code libertarians "all" follow, is that one does not limit the "freedom" of others.

Connor Lidell wrote: The only ethical code libertarians "all" follow, is that one does not limit the "freedom" of others.

Im not sure I understand. Can you elaborate?