Comments on: Recent Criticisms in Politics http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2009/08/17/recent-moronic-criticisms-in-politics/ Blogging on Philosophy and Politics Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: El Sordo http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2009/08/17/recent-moronic-criticisms-in-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-833 El Sordo Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:17:14 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/?p=707#comment-833 On the 2nd issue I am wholly in agreement with you. The whole concept of state is generally intertwined with coercion and at some stage this requires violence... few states are born peacefully. If war is an extension of politics by other means, so too is terrorism, one need only see the political wings that Irish Republicanism and Palestinian separatists have emerged from or retreated into. On the first point I'm more cautious. Mostly because I am tired of smear politics and the American Right using Socialism as a dirty word. I consider the U.S. health system to be grossly unjust (I accept this is a subjective opinion). And also to be contrary to the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution where it states its aim to be to "promote the general Welfare" of its peoples - a health system that discriminates against those who are unable to pay full health insurance thereby limiting the quality and quantity of medical care available to them hardly seems to be in the interests of the general welfare of the people. I accept that the NHS is a far from perfect model, yet it is a model that was established to promote the welfare of all peoples in Britain and from its conception health care in this country has radically improved. I also accept American commentary that a similar system may be unworkable or undesirable for America, and thankfully President Obama seems to be aware of this when he recently stated that he hoped to create a uniquely American system designed for American needs and pressures. Generally AC1 is correct to defend Hannan's free speech, he has a 'right' to speak up even if his views are not shared by the majority. Similarly to describe such dissentions as "unpatriotic" is to say the least an unfortunate choice of phrase. As AC1 asks "stick to the topic". For me the most important line is "giving an unfair impression of the National Health Service" which I think is accurate. Hannan belongs to a neocon group that wishes to dismantle the system of universal health care and replace it with a profit-making health industry based on insurance premiums. On the 2nd issue I am wholly in agreement with you. The whole concept of state is generally intertwined with coercion and at some stage this requires violence… few states are born peacefully. If war is an extension of politics by other means, so too is terrorism, one need only see the political wings that Irish Republicanism and Palestinian separatists have emerged from or retreated into.

On the first point I’m more cautious. Mostly because I am tired of smear politics and the American Right using Socialism as a dirty word. I consider the U.S. health system to be grossly unjust (I accept this is a subjective opinion). And also to be contrary to the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution where it states its aim to be to “promote the general Welfare” of its peoples – a health system that discriminates against those who are unable to pay full health insurance thereby limiting the quality and quantity of medical care available to them hardly seems to be in the interests of the general welfare of the people.
I accept that the NHS is a far from perfect model, yet it is a model that was established to promote the welfare of all peoples in Britain and from its conception health care in this country has radically improved.
I also accept American commentary that a similar system may be unworkable or undesirable for America, and thankfully President Obama seems to be aware of this when he recently stated that he hoped to create a uniquely American system designed for American needs and pressures.

Generally AC1 is correct to defend Hannan’s free speech, he has a ‘right’ to speak up even if his views are not shared by the majority. Similarly to describe such dissentions as “unpatriotic” is to say the least an unfortunate choice of phrase. As AC1 asks “stick to the topic”.
For me the most important line is “giving an unfair impression of the National Health Service” which I think is accurate. Hannan belongs to a neocon group that wishes to dismantle the system of universal health care and replace it with a profit-making health industry based on insurance premiums.

]]> By: Anti Citizen One http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2009/08/17/recent-moronic-criticisms-in-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-831 Anti Citizen One Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:07:55 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/?p=707#comment-831 I notice this line in the US declaration of independence: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or <i>to abolish it</i>, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." (my emphasis) And as it transpired, they used force. AC1 I notice this line in the US declaration of independence:

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” (my emphasis)

And as it transpired, they used force.

AC1

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