Should Superman Intervene?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Well, it is important for the military to be effective, so having intelligent recruits would be a good idea. I'm sure the US armed forces would be doing a better job if they were smarter--might even have won some hearts and minds.
...[text shortened]... me way as private healthcare--unaffordable for the majority.

The point is that I don't think they would convince many if their education was not molded by the state.

Don't underestimate the power of government education, even on highly intelligent people.

Edit: And the positive effects of a wide base of not overly intelligent unranked soldiers.

"Today's maths lesson is brought to you by the number 3 and the all new chicken McNuggets with sweet chilli sauce. You can count on McDonalds."

I'd rather have the government doing the moulding, thanks.

I have a question for all of you "Superman is a Socialist" types.
Would you pay taxes if it was voluntary rather than compulsory?

I was misquoted! 😕 I meant that the parents had to have the say in what the child is taught, not the government. The material taught in schools has to be regulated by the parents, not the governement.

Originally posted by Halitose
I was misquoted! 😕 I meant that the parents had to have the say in what the child is taught, not the government. The material taught in schools has to be regulated by the parents, not the governement.

But, you see, I don't think that government-provided schools necessarily means the government regulates the content of the teaching very much, if at all. School authorities seem to be reasonably independent of government on those issues.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
I have a question for all of you "Superman is a Socialist" types.
Would you pay taxes if it was voluntary rather than compulsory?

The question is leading. It should be:

Would you pay taxes if it's compulsory for everyone but voluntary for you?

Or else free-riding by others would twist most people into saying no.

Originally posted by orfeo
But, you see, I don't think that government-provided schools necessarily means the government regulates the content of the teaching very much, if at all. School authorities seem to be reasonably independent of government on those issues.

In that case I agree with you.

Originally posted by Palynka

Would you pay taxes if it's compulsory for everyone but voluntary for you?

I am not interested in the answer to that question. I am doing no twisting. It is your own untenable position that does the twisting.

I want to know if you would pay voluntarily if it were voluntary for everybody.

Your refusal to answer this question is telling.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
I have a question for all of you "Superman is a Socialist" types.
Would you pay taxes if it was voluntary rather than compulsory?

I really don't see what one has to do with the other but, to continue you on with your hijack of this thread, I probably would not voluntarily pay taxes because I don't see the immediate relationship as to where my tax dollars are going. If I didn't feel my meager contribution wasn't going to support the current bureacracy and not making any changes then I would happy to contribute.

This is really a simple discussion and has very little to do with Socialism, Capitalism and the rest. You are Superman. Do you bring food to the poor? Because of your "super abilities" you could potentially stop tsunamis, hurricanes and what not. Do you do that? Do you make sure every inhabitant on this planet is able to live peacefully meaning they have the basics (good shelter and sufficient food)? Do you do what most people know in their heart of hearts to be the right thing or do you let mankind sort things out for themselves? Do you eliminate the ability for any nation to destroy each other by a push of a button?

The rest of these discussions would still need to be sorted out but do you honestly disagree if you had these abilities the world would not be a better place for it?

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
I am not interested in the answer to that question. I am doing no twisting. It is your own untenable position that does the twisting.

I want to know if you would pay voluntarily if it were voluntary for everybody.

Your refusal to answer this question is telling.

Assume again, because it's no in both cases.

I just think your question proves nothing.

Originally posted by Joe Fist
I really don't see what one has to do with the other but, to continue you on with your hijack of this thread, I probably would not voluntarily pay taxes because I don't see the immediate relationship as to where my tax dollars are going. ...[text shortened]... had these abilities the world would not be a better place for it?

Have you read A Clockwork Orange? The novel's thesis is that to force goodness upon a person renders that person inhuman.

What if Superman subjected everybody to the Ludovico Technique to make them conform to his socialist ideals, thereby eliminating the ills that you cite? Would that yield a better world? I agree with the author, whose finding is that it wouldn't.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
What if Superman subjected everybody to the Ludovico Technique to make them conform to his socialist ideals, thereby eliminating the ills that you cite? Would that yield a better world? It is my contention that it wouldn't.

Strawman.

Originally posted by Palynka
Strawman.

Questions do not a strawman make.

Strawman.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Questions do not a strawman make.

Strawman.

Answers might..

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Questions do not a strawman make.

Strawman.

They do when they are answered by the person who makes them.