The so-called "Social Contract"

['Gear]

See? I'm telling you, you guys are pretty much on the same page.

Lets say I have four. I agree to give you two. Then I proceed to give you one now with a promise to give you three extra if you wait a bit for the total. Now I up the ante by agreeing to give three more people one each if you agree to the higher number. Seeing my charitable approach you agree to give two of the six you got from me to people who each promise to give someone else one in anticipation of getting several more at a later date. So if everyone who gets four, keeps three, agrees to give two, gives one and promises one later everyone has at least two and more on the way.

Win/win

 

[eloisel]

That is very true but everyone has to agree to do that voluntarily while being anti-social. Have you ever been to an anti-socialists' meeting? The coffee dissolves spoons and there isn't any cream or sugar because having any would encourage people to hang around and socialize. I went to one once so I know from experience how it all goes. First, the underwear model comes in and strips, then the horse gets jealous, and it always ends with somebody flying a crop duster through the front door screaming something about lions. Or, was that a Haley Joe Osmont movie?

 

[The Question]

It sounds like an acid trip.

So, you know I'd attend.

But the ethical point being, giving that isn't voluntary, yes, is theft. And if theft is wrong at all, it's wrong regardless of who does it or how altruistic their professed motives are. If it's wrong, it's wrong, period. No matter who. No matter why.

And yes, some of us are forced to rely on it. That in no way bars those of us who are reliant on it from objecting to its nature or, at minimum, pointing out what its true nature is. Audie Murphy was a decorated veteran of WW2 -- he was also a conscientious objector. You don't have to be a fanboy of a government program just because you happen to be part of it.

 

[The Question]

Wow, no Wordin or Gul sightings. Gul usually falls on this shit like a swarm of ants on a sugar pile. Well, this is a letdown.

 

['Gear]

I tried to go to an anti-socialists' meeting one time but no one was there.

 

[eloisel]

That was probably the time we moved the meeting down the street to Denny's. The coffee is passable, they have cream and sugar, and you can get toast and eggs with that.

 

['Gear]

We?

 

[eloisel]

Well, yes. What good is being an anti-socialist if no one appreciates your anti-socialism? Birds of a feather flock together, right?

 

[The Question]

I went to a meeting of anarchists once. it was at 36 addresses and happened on 7 non-consecutive days.