cowkong t1_iu9t0km wrote on October 29, 2022 at 5:52 PM

Reply to comment by Striking-Screen-3619 in I am Mark Tippetts, Libertarian Candidate for Governor of Texas by Mark4Gov

I don't want individuals to thrive alone. I want the best for everyone. I'm willing to sacrifice personally for the betterment of everyone. If you can't stay healthy indoors, that's a personal choice decided by the individual, a notion that should be appreciated by libertarians. No one's forcing you to stuff your face with food and to not find new avenues for exercise during a time where information is readily available and often free. In fact, if libertarians had their way, highly addictive, obesity-causing food would be even more popular than it is currently. Libertarians want freedom of choice and addiction comes easy. Those options put freedom in front of everything and it comes at a cost for everyone within the society, regardless of how much you try to ignore it and focus on yourself. Power comes from your vote, that's the proper way to make the change you want to see. Putting individual freedoms over everything else is a great way to allow the selfish to live more carefree and create a society that only serves those with means. I want a more empathetic, caring government. Not one that puts me, myself, and I as the only thing I should care about. I want to help others if I have the means and I want more of that from our government.

skabople t1_iuaixw4 wrote on October 29, 2022 at 8:56 PM

Libertarians are for free choice but only if it doesn't harm others around you. We take addiction very seriously and greatly encourage social programs preferably at a local level so the service can be as personalized as possible. Most Libertarians love localism. We want the people to give back and help each other and that stance includes the government. You should be able to help people for the betterment of humanity. Libertarians want to make sure that the government doesn't get in the way of doing that. Sadly this isn't always displayed by the community of Libertarians in their messaging but our elected officials show otherwise. Ed Tiddwell the mayor of Lago Vista, Texas is libertarian. In the five years that he's been mayor the population increases ~60%, sales tax up by ~66%, property taxes dropped 33%, and they've been able to add more to their community in terms of parks and other small benefits thanks to his guidance and his team. My town has a $7 a month charge for your water bill that covers any and all emergency transportation to and from the hospitals and I personally along with many others would like to see this expand into more medical coverage for my city that's voluntary and encourages competition among government and corporations alike. It's a perfect example of localism that Libertarians love. I'm sorry the empathy doesn't always come across but the Libertarian Party of Texas craves an empathetic and loving society.

cowkong t1_iubydud wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:56 AM

Hey, thanks! I really appreciate an in-depth explanation of what Libertarianism means to you and probably many. It doesn't surprise me that a movement can be distorted as it gains a following and that a very loud portion can only further create an image that doesn't truly represent its cause. I also appreciate the addition of a real-world example to take a look at. I'm always interested in learning more and you've done a great job encouraging me to do so

skabople t1_iuc1xam wrote on October 30, 2022 at 4:33 AM

CrowdHealth and "Healthshare" companies are very good examples of what libertarians like myself would like to see expanded as well. Affordable quality healthcare from the corporate side of things as well. Localism isn't the end all be all we don't want to put our eggs in one basket. Checks and balances stuffs lol

Striking-Screen-3619 t1_iua65f3 wrote on October 29, 2022 at 7:25 PM

The authoritarian government puts themselves first. They want power over you. They are selfish.

Your thread includes “I want,” which in your words is selfish. You are putting yourself first. Why should I cater to that? Why should your needs and desires supersede mine?

You seem to want more control over others, which is not empathetic or caring. You can’t control or legislate empathy and care.

Just like no one is forcing people to stuff their faces with food (good or bad) the government should not force me or others to put things in my body, including vaccines. If food is a personal choice, so are vaccines.

Just think about this, you want more government power and control? What happens when someone is elected that you don’t like and gets to have all that power you are championing? In other words, Trump can come back into office and wield all that power you wanted those in power to have (assuming you’re not a Trump supporter).

In other words, be careful what you wish for…

cowkong t1_iua8lnm wrote on October 29, 2022 at 7:43 PM

I love how you can translate "I want the best for everyone" and call that selfish. It's honestly a really shallow attempt at taking something out of context to try to discredit an argument that explicitly states the opposite. But you do you, man. Vaccines aren't a personal choice simply because you live around others and your defiance of health and safety standards puts others at risk. IE it's selfish and does a disservice to those around you. Now, if you lived alone, completely isolated from society, I would have no qualms with that choice. We don't allow for people to set their houses on fire because it has the potential to harm others and their property, not due to a lack of freedom and personal choice.

I don't want control over others, I want a society that wants to work together to be the best it can. I don't think it's healthy for a large, sophisticated, and extremely complicated network of people, businesses, and services to only care for themselves, especially at the expense of others.

But I understand the fears of a large entity that controls it all, it's obviously faltering in many key aspects. Doesn't mean we should destroy it and return to human's previous state of individualism and tribalism. We only achieve what we have as humans because our societies that continue to grow as we do culturally.

We can balance control/power with accountability and creating a system that keeps it in check. We currently have systems that try to do that, although, again, it's far from perfect and something that needs to be worked on, not completely abolished. I appreciate your arguments and assumptions about my politics and wish you the best. Cheers.

Striking-Screen-3619 t1_iuacgwv wrote on October 29, 2022 at 8:11 PM

Nope, I translated your desire for more government controls as selfish.

Vaccines are a personal choice. They go into my body. My body, my choice, right?

You don’t want control over others, but you just told me what to do with my body. Again, my body, my choice.

I believe in the power and uniqueness of the individual. I see you for what you are, what you can offer, and your individual potential for what you can become. I don’t merely see you as a group. That’s what Libertarian mean when they celebrate you as an individual. I see you as more than the collective.

I also appreciate your feedback. I appreciate our freedom to provide our feedback too.

cowkong t1_iuadq38 wrote on October 29, 2022 at 8:20 PM

I see society as a relationship that requires a certain give and take. To make sacrifices for it and those within it and gain the advantage and services it provides.

I think we can easily agree on that something needs to be fixed currently and we want change. Just completely different views. I would absolutely love to be proved wrong if it created a better life for all, in which I'd gladly embrace whatever shape it took. Again, have a good day, it's been an enriching discussion.