Hello, I’m Mike

Tell us a little about yourself.

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MMasz
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Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:16 pm

Hello, I’m Mike

Post by MMasz »

I recently subscribed to PN and found this forum. Not being a philosopher I’m hoping to learn from the more erudite folks here.

A quick bio: Live in coastal south Florida, 58, married 33 yrs; 4 kids- all adopted as adolescents including 2 sisters we adopted from Russia earlier this year; Education: BS-(biology), DC, MBA (risk management); Occupation- well that fluctuates- in past: Army, cop, chiropractor, fraud investigator and now high school science teacher (biology, chemistry) and I recently added a philosophy section to a Critical Thinking/Apologetics class. I’m hoping to expand my knowledge of philosophy here. Politically, non-dogmatic, conservative side of Libertarian. Hobbies- motorcycling, when I get a chance and reading.

Favorite philosophers- don’t have one yet.
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

Hello Mike,

what are the main beliefs of a hard-core libertarian ?
People in Scandinavian countries have a high amount of "socialism" and they seem happy there.
Sweden is a cozy country and you can relax there, as I heard (I have never been there).
MMasz
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by MMasz »

Hi duscek: To answer your question, I’d say a hard core libertarian is probably an anarchist.
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

But why should anyone want to be an anarchist ?

You come from a nicely organized socialist little state (= US Army).
Everybody is taken care for there, I was told.

Anarchy is what Thomas Hobbes described, war of everyone against everyone. Staying afraid all the time.
In many parts of the world the situation is like this because the governement does not manage to provide safety for the citizens.

Anarchy is a nightmare.
MMasz
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Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:16 pm

Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by MMasz »

duszek wrote:But why should anyone want to be an anarchist ?

Why? Beats me. I'm not an anachist.

You come from a nicely organized socialist little state (= US Army).
Everybody is taken care for there, I was told.

Not quite socialist, nor egalitarian (at least when I was in), but more of a meritocracy which I subscribe to.
.
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

But what is "conservative side of Libertarian" then ?

I thought conservative was some sort of hard-core, most traditional, most puritan, most preserved.

conservare = to preserve, like foods in a bin
aiddon
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by aiddon »

Not to fight your battles for you Mike but i find it interesting that the word conservative conjures up such negative connations. One says one is conservative and it is open season for criticism. I don't consider myself conservative (nor liberal for that matter). As a matter of interest, in what aspect of your libertarianism are you conservative? I understand a libertarian to be a committed free marketeer yet in terms of individual choices is a liberal. I guess it's all about individualism (though that too sounds like an invitation for disparagement) ?
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

Criticism ?

The hard core of an apple conserves (= preserves) the genes for the next generation.

I approach statements linguistically, at first.
aiddon
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by aiddon »

Yes but the core of a grape is soft. And grapes are the instigators of so much happiness and late night philosophising. Ah the sweet, intellectual aftertaste of a 2010 Cote de Rhone ...
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

Yes, that´s true.

There are hard cores and soft cores.

A conservative could be both then.

A conservative libertarian could be a soft version of a libertarian, a soft core libertarian.
He would preserve ... below the shell ... the golden middle ?
aiddon
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by aiddon »

I see. But in which aspects of libertarianism in particular are you conservative? Many would think it's all conservative by default ...
duszek
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by duszek »

Me ?

We are trying to intepret Mike´s introduction.

What could it be, a conservative libertarian ?

A libertarian who is not interested in radical reforms perhaps.

Who enjoys liberty in a world which remains old-fashioned.
MMasz
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Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:16 pm

Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by MMasz »

As a Libertarian, I subscribe to ideas of extremely limited government, personal freedom, unfettered capitalism (no government allowance of monopolies, corporate welfare, etc), legalization of marijuana. I am not supportive of radical change, but want to awaken sheeple from their state of comfortable numbness.

On the "conservative" side I am pro-life, don't support gay marriage, but understand that marriage is a social contract- not necessarily a religious event and generally sympathetic with the TEA party.

Neither the Repubs or the Dems are suitable parties.
Last edited by MMasz on Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
aiddon
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by aiddon »

Would personal freedom include being free to marry whom you wish?
MMasz
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Re: Hello, I’m Mike

Post by MMasz »

aiddon wrote:Would personal freedom include being free to marry whom you wish?
As long as the "whom" is a human, then yes (barring incest).
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