[MD] Value and the Individual

[Platt Holden]

> Craig:
> > > P. S. The problem isn't only when "do-gooders"
> > don't try do good.
> > > Doing good is the basis of the free market. 
> > ("Build a better mousetrap
> > > & the world will beat a pathway to your door.")  
> > The problem is with
> > > do-gooders that try to force their solutions on
> > others.
> 
> Platt: 
> > You hit the nail on the head. Those who advocate
> > government solutions to 
> > perceived problems rarely, if ever, acknowledge the
> > nature of government.
> > As Ronald Reagan put it, "Government is like a baby
> > -- an alimentary canal
> > with a big appetite at one end and no sense of
> > responsibility at the other." 
> 
> 
> SA:  This is somewhat of why I see a big gov't gets
> bigger when people degenerate.  The gov't has to try
> to plug up all the problems with overhead,
> bureaucracy, but when the gov't has to try to fill in
> the holes of gov't (the tax code, etc...), then we've
> got paradox problems to infinite.  The middle way is
> here.  So, I'm not going all the way on this one with
> you Platt, but I do see some of what your saying.  I
> think Arlo does too, but to go full-blown one way only
> is to not fix any stepping stones along the way -
> you'll get a full-blown gun revolution with arms and
> blood flying everywhere if the gov't is to disappear
> tomorrow.

Right you are. There is a legitimate role for government as Pirsig explains
in Lila. To abolish it completely would result in anarchy -- and in your 
colorful phrase, with "blood flying everywhere." 

Platt