Oh, Quaker...

[Solus]

110

But with some 'caveats'.

Like Abolish SS and Medicare....yes, but only after repaying everyone's contributions plus interest less benefits paid.

Abolish FDA and Worker Safety Regulations   Yes, but replace them with strong private consumer protection groups.

My thinking is that almost any, if not all,  government service can be done more efficiently by the private sector.  It will also be done with no more corruption than the government brings.  It will just be much easier to get rid of the 'bad apples' in the private sector.  You don't have to convince the 'bad apples' change their ways or wait till you can try to vote them out.

Don't think we can do without a standing army in the modern world.  Invading Troops can be deployed much sooner in the modern world and you need the military ready and functioning .   Perhaps reduced to a 'core cadre' at the federal level with 'semi or fully active duty militia units  at the state level that can be 'called up' as a cohesive unit to the federal level if needed.

Without the 'Welfare' type payments immigration becomes less of an economic issue and much more of a National Defense/Security issue.  The screening would be for criminal/terrorist backgrounds.  Anyone here illegally would be considered invaders and treated accordingly.  Let the poor and wretched come in.  We only guarantee  an equal opportunity to work for all, not any government handouts or support.  If someone wants to help those who might need assistance, let them contribute to local charities who will do a more efficient job of it than the government.

And don't get me wrong.  I am not for not helping at all.  I just feel that nothing is more hypocritical than forcing folks to be charitable at the point of a gun, which taking taxes for welfare is.

I have always given to United Appeal and always at or above my 'fair share' level, as defined by UA....even back when I was in the service.  I just think that if done by local charities, more will be done for half of what they take in  taxes.  I can decide what to do with the other 50% of the taxes I saved.....give more or buy more ammo.

[crusader rabbit]

51-90 points: You are a medium-core libertarian, probably self-consciously so. Your friends probably encourage you to quit talking about your views so much.

Wow, FQ and I have similar scores, though I got a 60.  If it wasn't for the Soc Security questions (I get my monthly stipend, so I can't be too opposed)  I probably would have scored higher.  Still, I do not consider myself a Libertarian but rather a Conservative. 

And, that is the point I would make (kindly) to FQ--if you believe in bigger government, that belief is antithetical to to the Libertarian philosophy.  By voting for ANY dummycrap (and you did, Quaker), you have asserted your belief in big government, therefore your claim to libertarianism (or Libertarianism with a capital letter) is specious.  Likewise, your anachronistic avatar, Fighting Quaker, though humorous is also a philosophical impossibility.  As you know FQ, the Quakers have a long-standing and abiding distaste for conflict of any kind--though they do make a fair puffed wheat product that requires it be "shot from guns."  Even there, the guns they use are powerd by a great deal of steam under high pressure.  And I finally understand the relevance of the FQ name--a lot of hot air under pressure...  And this Aristotalian exercise worked:  a properly phrased question provides its own answer.

Posted by Crusader who would like to see the elimination of MOST government immediately, and all but the barest minimum over time.

[Timothy]

I took it again and really took my time.  The first time, I was at work and just ripped through it quickly.

My score increased to 70.

I believe in the Consititution and the liberties and freedoms that are derived from that.  Small government is good government and we've enough laws that aren't enforced.  As I've said before, if Congress never passed another law, I'd be content to live out my life, fending for me and mine to live as I please within the confines of decency and good citizenship.

[fightingquaker13]

Crusader
I don't want to encourage thread drift here, because I want to know what people's scores are. Largely because I am finding that for all the arguing, we are pretty much on the same page philosophically. We may disagree on the means, but in terms of the ends? We are not so far apart in terms of how we envision the country. As far as the FQ thing, I taught at Earlham College, a good Quaker school. The football team, before the Elders got all PC (or maybe RC as in religiously correct) and changed it to "The Quake" as in quaking in fear because they couldn't win a game to save their lives, was known as "The Fighting Quakers". The cheer was "Quakers Fight! Quakers Fight! Kill Quakers Kill !". It amused the hell out of me. No oats were harmed in the production of my avatar. Just an appeciation of irony and a scrappy, but terrible football team.
FQ13

[MikeBjerum]

58

51-90 points: You are a medium-core libertarian, probably self-consciously so. Your friends probably encourage you to quit talking about your views so much.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Does any one else find it ironic that FQ at 54 has the 3rd lowest (least Libertarian) scores  
It seems Eric may have a point, I beat him by 20 points for crying out loud.  

[Timothy]

Does any one else find it ironic that FQ at 54 has the 3rd lowest (least Libertarian) scores  
It seems Eric may have a point, I beat him by 20 points for crying out loud.  

Considering who he voted for in 2008, doesn't surprise me....he'll most certainly try and justify it in that FQ sort of way we've become annoyed by accustomed to!

 

[PegLeg45]

No oats were harmed in the production of my avatar. Just an appeciation of irony and a scrappy, but terrible football team.
FQ13

              

[fightingquaker13]

Considering who he voted for in 2008, doesn't surprise me....he'll most certainly try and justify it in that FQ sort of way we've become annoyed by accustomed to!

 

No justification, just old age. I'f I'd taken that thing when I was 23 and a Kool-aid drinking fire breather I'd have gotten close to a perfect score. I was an inch away from being an anarcho-capitalist. Thing is, education and life experience tends to sour you on ideologies, at least if you're paying attention. Its called growing up.
FQ13

[fullautovalmet76]

I got a 72 and Quaker got 50 something, I knew it.....But what is striking is how much closer you are to some than I would have thought..... 

Then again we probably should not give this too much emphasis, but it's fun to argue about.....