tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post3160450124579102734..comments2023-10-20T05:51:51.625-04:00Comments on The THINK 3 INSTITUTE: The refugee crisis and the clash of individualismsSamuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-70500043517890927522015-11-19T14:24:14.421-05:002015-11-19T14:24:14.421-05:00And that thought process only proves to me how stu...And that thought process only proves to me how stupid such people are. I have never met a socialist who believed that anyone should be allowed to sit on their ass and freeload. I see plenty of capitalists who do just that. Live their entire lives off of an inheritance they did little to earn, (other than being born).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-8496551157931937492015-11-18T21:27:24.510-05:002015-11-18T21:27:24.510-05:007:43. I think the competitiveness you write about ...7:43. I think the competitiveness you write about continues to evolve. In 21st century America, for instance, I think a lot of people would justify competition over cooperation less on the basis of their desire to compete (though that's definitely still there) than on a suspicion that cooperation only means that some people get to freeload while others do all the work. In other words, only competition enforces the principle of personal responsibility by requiring everyone to pull his or her own weight. A pretty neat rationalization that evades the point of cooperation, which is just as you say.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-26509947181573225002015-11-18T19:43:19.684-05:002015-11-18T19:43:19.684-05:00As far as individualism is concerned, we are all i...As far as individualism is concerned, we are all individuals, whether we like it or not. Nothing we do makes us <i>more</i> individual or <i>less</i> individual than anyone else. We all have a unique genetic code, unique fingerprints, unique retina prints, etc. Republican/conservative/right-wing is no less a "collectivism" than socialist/liberal/left-wing. Anyone who refuses to accept that is simply too stupid to be worth conversing with.<br /><br />What concerns me is this right-wing mentality that turns everything into a competition. As if everything is a "team" and all that is important is that "my team wins and beats your team." In the long term, this mentality serves no useful purpose. Anyone who takes 5 minutes to consider will come to the conclusion that, objectively, cooperation will net more than competition. A group cooperating towards a goal will be more likely to achieve that goal than pitting everyone against everyone to decide on a "winner".<br /><br />As far as I can tell, competition is a subconscious mechanism from our monkey ancestors. An instinct towards evolution's "survival of the fittest". As reasoning beings, we have the ability, the prerogative, the responsibility to control our species evolution. Both biologically and socially, for the ultimate benefit and enrichment of the entire species.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-4364145569590242242015-11-18T19:33:48.285-05:002015-11-18T19:33:48.285-05:00Insofar as "the seeming inconsistency in Repu...Insofar as "the seeming inconsistency in Republican refusal to treat Syrian refugees as individuals when they're such strong believers in individualism over collectivism." That shouldn't even need to be remarked on. It's very obviously part and parcel of the entire conservative mindset. They treat EVERY "group" that way, whether the group in question is based on sexual identity, preferred superstition, skin color, etc. To simplify it, "I is us, but you is them."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-44783972380244516072015-11-18T19:29:32.219-05:002015-11-18T19:29:32.219-05:00I'd still rather simply avoid any problems on ...I'd still rather simply avoid any problems on U.S. soil by refusing admittance to any more refugees than we've already taken in. And we should encourage the rest of Europe, until ISIS and all like threats have been quelled, to keep their muslim populations under strict control - whatever the means necessary.<br /><br />Quite frankly, I'd much rather simply eradicate Islam and tear out its roots. One less superstition ruling mankind can only be a good thing. Sometimes to save the body, you must lop off a limb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-72051507072200062512015-11-18T17:11:52.027-05:002015-11-18T17:11:52.027-05:00What I was analyzing "so deeply" was the...What I was analyzing "so deeply" was the seeming inconsistency in Republican refusal to treat Syrian refugees as individuals when they're such strong believers in individualism over collectivism. Such people shouldn't believe in collective guilt or responsibility -- they howl the loudest when blacks talk about reparations, for instance -- yet here we are. If you oppose accepting the refugees and are neither a Republican or an individualist, I agree that there's less to analyze. <br /><br />Speaking for myself, the top priorities ought to be: global intervention against the IS by UN mandate --I don't see anyone on the Security Council vetoing it and at worst China might find reason to abstain. Wipe out the IS ground army as soon as possible. Guarantee Russia their naval base regardless of who rules Syria but also give Assad a breathing space for reconciliation. Force Sunnis and Shiites (i.e. Saudis and Iranians) to the bargaining table regarding Yemen as well as Iraq and Syria. In short, address the causes of Muslim vs. Muslim violence that have inflated IS capacity for Muslim vs. infidel violence and we should make the region safer for Muslims and the rest of the world safer for the rest of us. With such a strategy in place, any hosting of refugees anywhere should be <i>temporary</i> and restricted geographically. Applications for permanent residency can be made, but each country has the right to set its own terms, consistent with their constitutions or charters. Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-46381936876448825072015-11-18T11:48:59.734-05:002015-11-18T11:48:59.734-05:00But let's also look at the reasonable side. U...But let's also look at the reasonable side. Unemployment is still very high. The economy is still at a low. Bringing tens of millions of refugees here when we can barely take care of our own people who, being born here, should be seen as having more of a claim to that which is provided by American taxpayers than some refugee who is NOT here out of choice, because he/she <i>wants</i> to be an American. Allowing these people in, at this time, will ONLY add to the resentment too many Americans feel already. You will only increase the violence, the poverty and the hatred in this country by forcing more unwanted, unregulated refugees down our throats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-67550274876913100902015-11-18T11:37:23.395-05:002015-11-18T11:37:23.395-05:00There's no need to analyze so deeply. Look at...There's no need to analyze so deeply. Look at 9/11. Look at Paris. Can YOU look at any individual muslim and say with 100% certainty that THAT particular muslim isn't a terrorist, doesn't know any terrorists, isn't aiding, financing or recruiting terrorists? No. The terrorists in Paris were living in the area. There is NO way that other muslims were unaware of who they were, of what they were up to and they did nothing. The sad fact is that although not all muslims support terrorism, there is NO way to know for certain whether any particular muslim is worth the risk. Since MY life is on the line, I say "FUCK NO!!!"<br /><br />Just as I feel no one can be trusted to own a gun due to the escalation of gun violence in this country, so too do I feel no muslim can be trusted. You have the right to risk your own life doing whatever suits your fancy, but you have no right to risk the lives of those around you. There are those who feel that we, as human beings, have an obligation to care for our fellow man and take the refugees in. But as Americans, we should be under no LEGAL obligation to do so, furthermore, as a nation whose government is supposedly representative of the will of the people, then this issue should be taken up by a public vote and the government should be obliged to obey the will of the people. I'm willing to bet the "people" agree with me in this case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com