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rallen2's Blogs in July 2009

Capitalism and The Fourth Estate
Before Michael Jackson's death, the Iranian political crisis was the big news item. What's going on? What, if any, is the responsibility of The Fourth Estate (the press, the journalists, the news media) to the people? The TV news media executives have decided that......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-04 13:52:27 | Rating:

| Views: 25 | Comments: 0 | Tags: The Fourth Estate The News Media

Criticism
Criticism is the beginning of creative destruction, which is the beginning of experimental reconstruction....Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-05 10:41:56 | Rating:

| Views: 15 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Criticism

Democratic Enfranchisement, Anarchist Enforcement
This proposition has been advanced: If anarchists intend that there will be no rules, then an anarchist arrangement will need a means to carry that out. So, it's inevitable that an anarchist society will need enforcers. But, this requirement, this......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-05 16:35:20 | Rating:

| Views: 97 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy Anarchism Enfranchisement Enforcement

The Property Rights of Productive Labor
The idea of mixing one's labor with the land is a metaphor, a figure of speech. but then must of what we say is founded upon metaphors. When a person mixes his or her labor with some parcel of land, cultivates and farms some area of land, most people will agree that that person has some......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-11 20:43:02 | Rating:

| Views: 12 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Property Rights Productive Labor

Democracy: Majority Rule, Minority Rights
It is because the minority is -- more often than not -- right that we can never deny, forget, or neglect the rights of the minority, the rights of the individual, even if and when we achieve a majority-rule democracy. Those who believe in, and advocate a majority-rule......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-12 11:25:08 | Rating:

| Views: 87 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy Majority Rule Minority Rights

Democracy: A Debate
R. A.: If a nation needs to defend itself from a real enemy, then a draft would be necessary, I suppose. But, in a democracy, able individuals would not be allowed to escape or avoid military service because of a parent's wealth, cronies, and/or influence. The democratic principle of......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-13 12:33:05 | Rating:

| Views: 44 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy

Democracy: A Debate
M. P.: You say a draft might be neccesary. So, what happens if I don't want to go? R. A.: Even when there is a draft, most of the people voluntarily join the military services. Enough people do their duty, and do it freely. If enough people do not want to serve......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-13 13:12:58 | Rating:

| Views: 24 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy

Democracy: A Debate
R. A.: Arbitrary laws are precisely what make the authoritarian state necessary. The state creates and enforces arbitrary laws. I. P. C.: Not necessarily. You're presuming that states can only possibly create arbitrary laws based on the needs of exploitation. That's......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-13 13:42:19 | Rating:

| Views: 29 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy

Democracy: A Debate
R. A.: Respecting rights ought to be the principal rule. I. P. C.: No, respecting rights is one rule among many on that list of rights. R. A.: A principal rule is not an exclusive or solitary rule. I. P. C.: Even if it isn't explicitly, it......Read More

Posted on: 2009-07-13 14:09:13 | Rating:

| Views: 23 | Comments: 0 | Tags: Democracy

Democracy: A Debate
R. A.: I believe that most people recognize and respect the rights of other people, especially if every person enjoys the same rights. If individual citizens recognize and respect the rights which they enjoy equally with every other citizen, then there is no need......Read More