Given that some social processes must convey inherent constraints, the choice is among various mixtures of persuasion, force, and cultural inducement. The less of one, the more of the others. The degree of freedom that is possible is therefore tied to the extent to which people respond to persuasion or inducement.
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The United States brags about its political system, but the President says one thing during the election, something else when read more
The United States brags about its political system, but the President says one thing during the election, something else when he takes office, something else at midterm and something else when he leaves.
One of the most fashionable notions of our times is that social problems like poverty and oppression breed wars. Most read more
One of the most fashionable notions of our times is that social problems like poverty and oppression breed wars. Most wars, however, are started by well-fed people with time on their hands to dream up half-baked ideologies or grandiose ambitions, and to nurse real or imagined grievances.
That government is best which governs least.
That government is best which governs least.
Policies are judged by their consequences, but crusades are judged by how good they make the crusaders feel.
Policies are judged by their consequences, but crusades are judged by how good they make the crusaders feel.
[expressing John Locke's view]...whenever anyone threatens any other innocent human in a way that makes manifest an ignorance or disregard read more
[expressing John Locke's view]...whenever anyone threatens any other innocent human in a way that makes manifest an ignorance or disregard of the fundamental equality as regards the right to self-preservation, the creature in human shape who acts in this way is to be treated by any and all other rational humans as a wild, clever, and therefore very dangerous animal, to be destroyed (if necessary) in order to safeguard the rest.
War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.
War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.
Property rights are not the rights of property; they are the rights of humans with regard to property. They are read more
Property rights are not the rights of property; they are the rights of humans with regard to property. They are a particular kind of human right.
No matter how disastrously some policy has turned out, anyone who criticizes it can expect to hear: "But what would read more
No matter how disastrously some policy has turned out, anyone who criticizes it can expect to hear: "But what would you replace it with?" When you put out a fire, what do you replace it with?
Canada has never been a melting pot; more like a tossed salad.
Canada has never been a melting pot; more like a tossed salad.
