this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2023
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Asklemmy

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For Context: I live in the United States of America.

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 41 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Define constantly, define afraid.

If you continually maintain readiness for government violation of your rights, no problem. If your heart rate is elevated and you’re sweating in fear, that’s a pretty serious problem.

As Bruce Lee said, “Do not be tense, but ready”.

Yeah the government is a monster and it might come get you. That’s true. But the likelihood it’s coming to get you right now is very low and being in constant fear is no way to live. And the government isn’t the only monster.

[–] riyria@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Buuuuut, if you think your houseplant is an undercover CIA agent or your entire family including your dog has been replaced with hyper realistic govt robots, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If they replaced your family they definitely replaced your psychiatrist too.

[–] MrCheeze445@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

it's not impossible that they even replaced you!

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Holy shit I’m delicious

[–] riyria@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your lithium isn’t actually lithium anymore, it’s govt nanobots that are going to implant in your brain and emit and receive 5g waves.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Im so happy cause today I found my friends. They’re in my head. I’m so vaxxed up, its okay cause so are you, we broke our cells. Buy my groceries in a daze cause I’m 5G.

[–] angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.com 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And the government isn’t the only monster.

Very important. Otherwise you become a Libertarian or a Theocrat.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee -4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well I'm a libertarian because it takes into account all the other monsters. The goal of government is to maximize freedom. That doesnt' mean anarchy, because people are less free under anarchy than they are under properly-operating government.

IMO a government should be just powerful enough to prevent other governments from forming. Like, the purpose of an army in a democracy is to prevent other armies from coming to install a dictatorship over the people.

Or to mirror the common saying about guns: "The only way to stop a bad government with an army, is with a good government with an army".

But the other monsters are gangs, corporations, individuals. And a good government enforces rules that prevent those other monsters from taking away your freedom.

But yeah. Basic point is that libertarian => government's purpose is to maximize freedom

[–] Halferect@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Libertarians are anarchists with suits. I hope you are a edgy 16 year old because I think you got a lot to learn about how the government works and how society works

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Libertarians are anarchists with suits

You don’t see this as “edgy” at all? Like what value are we to obtain from this comment as readers?

[–] BarrelAgedBoredom@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago

The American libertarian party and anarchists in all of their flavors (minus an-caps) are wildly different. What brought you to that conclusion?

[–] ComradeKhoumrag@infosec.pub 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I get the sentiment, and agree with it in theory. But in practice, the libertarian party in America is going to give you corporate tyranny

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

We already have corporate tyranny. That’s why Lemmy exists.

But why do you think that about the American Libertarian party specifically?