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The question I have concerns the founding principles of any social-political system. What principle allows you to compel other people to behave as you think they should? Such a principle could be religious, as found in Islamic Sharia law. Maybe you appeal to a principle of majority rule, but we know the mistakes the majority can make. It can institute slavery and prevent women from voting. Another principle might be what you think will produce the greater happiness, then we cannot be sure that you know what is best for me. So, if you think we should become a socialist society, then upon what principle may you compel others to live as you see fit?
I also wonder about the concept of “ownership” in political systems. If I own something, then I may do anything I wish with it provided that my use doesn’t infringe on someone’s freedom to do as he chooses. But if at some future time government may take my ownership of something, then in fact I cannot own it in the first place. Or if government may restrict my use of something I own, beyond my use to infringe on someone else’s freedom, then I cannot be said to own that thing. For example, if I own the land around my house, then no government has authority to tell me to cut the lawn in a timely fashion, nor can it prevent me from opening a business in my garage. If government has legitimate authority to prevent my use of my land, then in fact I do not own it.
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