Quote:
Originally Posted by Willravel
If I were in need of help, I would want others to help me, therefore when others need help, I try to help them. Social programs, ending the wars, fair progressive taxation, social equality for all people, things that are considered by Americans to be liberal, all extend from the golden rule.
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Your comment is important because no one believes that those who are needy should be ignored. The debate is whether such charity should be legislated, i.e., forced upon other people. I wish to be charitable in my own way. I do not necessarily wish to be charitable as the law commands. By what right do we allow such laws to be imposed on the minority?
You mention "fair" progressive taxation, but why is your conception of "fair" the right one, and mine is wrong? Is your argument any more than, "Well, that's just how I feel about it"?
---------- Post added at 01:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU2003
It didn't work out very well for the non-smokers and the workers at these places. ". . . and it didn't work out very well . . . .
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I would like to know what you mean by something's "working out" or not. I think letting owners decide for the property they own "works" fine. But what is my argument for that?
To own something means that you have disposition over it. You control it, and you have authority to determine what goes on with your property and what does not go on. You do not have the authority to compel anyone to do anything against his or her will, whether that person is on your property or not. You may however permit activity, such as smoking, but you are never allowed to compel anyone to enter your building and you are not allowed to compel employees to be in the building, if they don't want to.
If government is able to make demands on what goes on in your building, outside of cases where you are compelling someone to do something, then government has assumed ownership of your building. Still, government and society still claim that you own the building. Thus, there is a logical contradiction in the notion that you own it and that government owns it.