Does Anyone Really Believe in Liberty?

[Martin Hash]

We got people saying they hate Teddy Roosevelt for bringing down the Robber Barons. We got people lamenting the fact that the Fascists got beat in WW2. We got everyone agreeing that kings are not a bad thing.

Jesus Fucking Christ, I’ll just watch from here on out as the authoritarians battle it out amongst themselves.

[Haumana]

Can we not agree that the term is Fuacists? already?

[DBTrek]

You do understand that security contractors constitute the majority of our standing army, and that lobbyists present pre-written laws to our representatives, then instruct them on how to vote?

No, I don't understand that we have more armed military contractors performing soldiering than US Army soldiers, but if you have a source I'll take a look.

Lobbyist presenting money and legislation isn't passing laws. Government passes laws. Lobbyists and cash pass nothing. So if your government is predisposed to take money from lobbyists and pass their agenda as laws, the wise move is to restrict government further, not expand its powers.
Derp.

[SuburbanFarmer]

You do understand that security contractors constitute the majority of our standing army, and that lobbyists present pre-written laws to our representatives, then instruct them on how to vote?

No, I don't understand that we have more armed military contractors performing soldiering than US Army soldiers, but if you have a source I'll take a look.

That took me all of 30 seconds to find.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the- ... lackwater/

The use of contractors in Iraq is unprecedented in both its size and scope. Estimates of the number of contract personnel in Iraq vary widely. In 2006, the United States Central Command estimated the number to be around 100,000. (That it turned out to be such a perfectly round figure indicated that the estimate was actually what researchers call a “WAG,” short for “wild ass guess.”) In 2007, an internal Department of Defense census on the industry found almost 160,000 private contractors were employed in Iraq (roughly equal to the total U.S. troops at the time, even after the troop “surge”). Yet even this figure was a conservative estimate, since a number of the biggest companies, as well as any firms employed by the State Department or other agencies or NGOs, were not included in the census.

Lobbyist presenting money and legislation isn't passing laws. Government passes laws. Lobbyists and cash pass nothing. So if your government is predisposed to take money from lobbyists and pass their agenda as laws, the wise move is to restrict government further, not expand its powers.
Derp.

Do you propose abolishing the legislature entirely? You're giving Hash his point for 'dictatorship' supporters?

[DBTrek]

That took me all of 30 seconds to find.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the- ... lackwater/

The use of contractors in Iraq is unprecedented in both its size and scope. Estimates of the number of contract personnel in Iraq vary widely. In 2006, the United States Central Command estimated the number to be around 100,000. (That it turned out to be such a perfectly round figure indicated that the estimate was actually what researchers call a “WAG,” short for “wild ass guess.”) In 2007, an internal Department of Defense census on the industry found almost 160,000 private contractors were employed in Iraq (roughly equal to the total U.S. troops at the time, even after the troop “surge”). Yet even this figure was a conservative estimate, since a number of the biggest companies, as well as any firms employed by the State Department or other agencies or NGOs, were not included in the census.

Dude - there are 1.3Million people in the US military. Almost half a million in the US Army alone.
https://www.visitmilitarybases.com/ques ... itary.html

So 160k contractors is not shit, especially since the vast majority of those contractors are likely in support roles, not combat roles. Either way, you're nowhere near there being more contractors than active military.

Do you propose abolishing the legislature entirely? You're giving Hash his point for 'dictatorship' supporters?

No. Never proposed that. Proposed limiting government further against bribery by lobbyists. Something fairly easy to do by abolishing the political class as a profession.

[SuburbanFarmer]

That took me all of 30 seconds to find.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the- ... lackwater/

The use of contractors in Iraq is unprecedented in both its size and scope. Estimates of the number of contract personnel in Iraq vary widely. In 2006, the United States Central Command estimated the number to be around 100,000. (That it turned out to be such a perfectly round figure indicated that the estimate was actually what researchers call a “WAG,” short for “wild ass guess.”) In 2007, an internal Department of Defense census on the industry found almost 160,000 private contractors were employed in Iraq (roughly equal to the total U.S. troops at the time, even after the troop “surge”). Yet even this figure was a conservative estimate, since a number of the biggest companies, as well as any firms employed by the State Department or other agencies or NGOs, were not included in the census.

Dude - there are 1.3Million people in the US military. Almost half a million in the US Army alone.
https://www.visitmilitarybases.com/ques ... itary.html

So 160k contractors is not shit, especially since the vast majority of those contractors are likely in support roles, not combat roles. Either way, you're nowhere near there being more contractors than active military.

Do you propose abolishing the legislature entirely? You're giving Hash his point for 'dictatorship' supporters?

No. Never proposed that. Proposed limiting government further against bribery by lobbyists. Something fairly easy to do by abolishing the political class as a profession.

Term limits then. I’m all for that.