Thread: Brock's libertarian response to Wicked Tribe

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

Let's imagine that the gov oversight is well educated and beyond reproach then I feel privatization would far out preform status quo. I'm talking civil and social services not military or justice system

There feel better.

Well to rid yourself of corrupt gov official is a lengthy complicated process whereas in private business it's BAM don't let the door hit you in the ass.

My point is that if regulatory agencies aren't perfect, so basing your argument upon that assumption devalues it. Go look at the Enron scandal in 2001 if you want to see what corrupt officials and private companies can accomplish. And as for transparency and accountability, remember when Haliburton (who left Cheney with a $36m severence package weeks before he became VP), recieved a no-bid $ 7 Billion dollar contract from that same administration? How about when they overcharged (or stole, depending on your outlook) 61m dollars for fuel, and demoted the whistleblower? Is that the kind of transparency and accountability that you're striving for?

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

You can con it all day and don't get me wrong I'm not a privatize everything fanboy but I assure you like it or not it's coming to a world near you soon.

I disagree that it's coming, but if it does, it won't be the first time. Libertarianism is new in name only. It was tried around the turn of the 20th century until the '20s, and several times before that in European history. It failed then, and it will fail again.

Originally Posted by WickedTribe

My point is that if regulatory agencies aren't perfect, so basing your argument upon that assumption devalues it. Go look at the Enron scandal in 2001 if you want to see what corrupt officials and private companies can accomplish. And as for transparency and accountability, remember when Haliburton (who left Cheney with a $36m severence package weeks before he became VP), recieved a no-bid $ 7 Billion dollar contract from that same administration? How about when they overcharged (or stole, depending on your outlook) 61m dollars for fuel, and demoted the whistleblower? Is that the kind of transparency and accountability that you're striving for?

Is your point that companies can have corupt employees? I'm fairly certain both sides can draw out a damn near endless list of coruption in both companies and government. More often then not government gets away with it where employees are held accountable. Granted its not full proof and never will be but you have to find the least coruptable path or at least the one that is easier to enforce rules/laws and inflict punishment on those that choose not to abide by them.

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Is your point that companies can have corupt employees?

No, that wasn't my point at all.

The topic is libertarianism, and I've been talking about libertarianism.

You can change my mind, you just haven't done so yet. If you, on the other hand, don't allow argument or fact to change your opinion, then why don't you leave the thread to those of us who do?