While I hardly share this author's vision or concerns I
nevertheless can largely agree with him on this particular topic... how we should raise
our children to think about citizenship.
Of course many of these people have no problem with 'citizenship' if the country was arranged they way they want it to be.
We might find some common ground on how to think in light of
the current conditions. We might share some criticisms, but beyond that...
there's not a great deal in common.
I often use this type of argument when appealing to the
Counterculture of the 1960's or even Marxist critiques of earlier periods. In
many cases I can appreciate the questions that are being raised and many of the
criticisms without endorsing their overall vision.
There's a lot of common ground but the consensus quickly
crumbles when we turn to the response. Since we embrace completely different
understandings of our place, role and hope in and for this world... we quickly
find ourselves at odds.
So it is with this author. But as a fellow homeschooler I
can appreciate a few of his points. He mentions Ron Paul and I basically feel
the same way about him. Sometimes he's great. Other times he's delusional.
Overall he's better than many of the alternatives but I'm hardly on board with
him.
Like the author, I also agree with the principle of
non-aggression. He would use this to effectively eliminate government. I would
argue that you can't and in an Anarcho-Capitalist world you still end up with a
government... it's called the Corporation and its ultimate form the Monopoly. If
you don't have Corporations, the Market will create them.
Their understanding of Capitalism is stuck in the ivory
tower and in the realm of the blueprint. Left in this sanitized state it can
appear plausible and moral. When integrated into the world it is quickly
compromised and crumbles and ends up becoming many things these well meaning
folks would oppose.
How do you stop it? How do you establish a Market system
that maintains integrity and doesn't degenerate into Monopoly, Cronyism and
Politicking?
Government regulation I'm afraid... which defeats their
whole thesis.
Once you agree that the government has a stake or prerogative
in regulating the Market, we're not arguing over how much instead of whether it
should happen at all.
Localism and Self-rule might work in a village but only
Himalayan Shangri-La's can live in isolation.
Little villages in rural parts of the United States can and
do enjoy a great deal more freedom and autonomy than living in the city or the
suburbs. But there are prices to be paid for living out in the hinterland.
I've weighed the costs and decided to live out in a National
Forest but not everyone would want to live as I do.
I would also point out that if everyone did... then it would
ruin the area where I live. So in a sense I'm actually very thankful that many
people choose to live in the cities. That way I can live in a county that has
no traffic lights.
As you read his piece note the principles of non-aggression
which I consider to be quite positive, the scepticism toward citizenship and
how we are to think about man's political projects...
But at the same time, note the naivety, the self-focus, and
the patently un-Christian attitudes regarding the neighbour and the state.
Some would even criticize me for living 'away' as I do. I'm
actually not all that isolated. Only people from cities would consider this
area to be remote.
While I don't want to deal with the necessary regulation in
the cities, I'm also not allowed to just dismiss the world and live in my
isolated universe. As Christians that's not what we're called to do. I don't
think I need to feel guilty for seeking a mostly quiet life. We can reach and
affect people wherever we're at. But it would be wrong for me to simply ignore
the rest of the world and frankly be ignorant of its problems and issues.
I'm hardly a fan of the state, but once we understand what
it's for we can be more or less content to pay the taxes, even when we know
they will be misused.
But also note how he has embraced paradigms and narratives
concerning liberty, freedom, the rule of law, money and much else which are
rooted in the American tradition and the Enlightenment... but do not reflect
what Scripture teaches. In fact in some cases he's promoting sin and deception.
I know the government is full of a bunch of crooks. So is
the business world. Nevertheless we don't do that. We don't behave that way.
Will we always come out behind? Will always be at the bottom?
Pretty much.
In the end he is trying to build a type of Utopia. I'll
grant on paper it looks more peaceful than many other alternatives.
But it doesn't work. It wouldn't last five years, or even
five days.
All it takes is someone else not going along with your
vision and in order to save your vision you're going to have to abandon your
principles. Once someone decides to be discontent with what they have, they
will begin to acquire and acquisition and wealth bring power. The will join
house to house and land to land and soon will be telling you what to do.
If you don't want regulation and you're unwilling to force
them to stop...
Where does that leave you?
I know where this guy is coming from and really can
sympathize with him. But he's on a bad path.
New boss, same as the old boss.
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