Second chances, once considered a hallmark of American culture and identity, have become a luxury. One small mistake — or no mistake at all, simply the mistake of being born poor — can trap you there forever.
This was a challenging and thought-provoking read. If you fall into the “fiscally conservative, socially liberal” category, it probably won’t convince you that you’re dead wrong, but there are some points worth considering here.
Certainly these considerations form part of the reason I am no longer comfortable in the US libertarian camp. So much of that belief system rests on the assumption that equality-in-the-eyes-of-the-law is enough to give everyone an equal opportunity. And it just isn’t, not remotely.
i have to say i’m proud of you for being a person who examines ideologies and their logical conclusions and consequences. i had a feeling you were coming around to this position eventually. i myself tried hard to understand the libertarian POV, but couldn’t for the life of me see how one could reconcile the ideology with the realities of human life. human nature unregulated and left to its own devices has proven throughout its history that it doesn’t look out for the underprivileged among us, it tends to pursue its own success and prosperity at the expense of those locked in that vicious cycle of poverty and racism. the divide just gets wider. and stuff doesn’t get fixed. and lots of folks just fall through economic and social cracks, with no safety nets. etc, etc. but that’s just my humble, uninformed opinion. so i admit i sort of feel validated when i see someone as intelligent and intuitive as you being able to come to similar conclusions and revised thinking. now if you find a party that actually reflects and addresses the reality in our country, please let me know!
🙂
Ooh… holy crap, I disagree intensely with the list. Almost every point is 180 degrees wrong. Still, you’re a MSTie, so I’ll cut you some Slack.
Ah, autocorrect autocapitalized “Slack”. That’s funny.
Watch out for bloat, mission creep, and unintended consequences in government just as you would in software.