The God of the Machine - Tranche 21

Posted by mshupe 1 year, 9 months ago to Politics
7 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

Chapter X, Excerpt 3 of 3
The Economics of a Free Society

Lord Shaftesbury, the celebrated reformer, admitted privately that he accused the manufacturers though he knew the blame rested equally on the landowners, because he needed a party to pass his laws. What he did not realize was that he also was acting as an aristocrat, for the reform laws he framed were status law in disguise. The mechanism of government it used, status law, is that of the preventative clutch. Its social atmosphere is tinged with despair, misery here and the hereafter.

The advance could not be made until a structure had been erected to accommodate the mechanism, including the type of control which is used in motor mechanics by the various applications known as safety devices. The essential feature of such appliances is that they do not and cannot take effect until the actual need arises. These are not preventive controls, but corrective; the are not primary, but secondary. Contract law is the same type of mechanism in the political organization.

Contract law has no primary authority, no jurisdiction unless invoked by the individual. It is indisputably nothing but an agency, initiative being vested in the individual, which is determined by the previous agreement of the individuals. It is the only method of organization which leaves the creative faculty and corollary productive processes their inherent and necessary freedom. The political instrument must be of a secondary character.


All Comments

  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by 1 year, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm not sure there is a critical mass of corruption that is calculable. I think that would be contrary to the thesis of this book. A society of contract, a properly decentralized government of foundation and machinery is created and perfected on scientific principles. A society of status is not. Instead, the tipping point is a plurality of victims who sanction their own victimhood. In the case of modern America, it is the corporate leaders who willingly subject themselves to regulation and ignore the long-term time and distance needed for wealth creation and a civilized society.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by j_IR1776wg 1 year, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Any civilization that can be defined as a society of status always confers ownership and control to the most powerful. Individual merit and achievement is denigrated (“You didn’t build that; somebody else made it happen…” Barack Obama) while theft by the Elite is applauded and rewarded (Joe and Hunter Biden earned their millions.). America, arguably, crossed over from a society of contract to a society of status in 1913 even though corruption probably began whilst the Constitutional ink was still wet.

    By some calculus or equation, I cannot discern, regulatory bureaucrats reach a point of power where they become a separate entity no longer answerable or accountable to any other entity, person(s), laws, or philosophy. They exist by and for their own lights. America 2023.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by 1 year, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    This is a perfect case in point. I had not seen this article, but I heard of the Chevron Defense a few months ago, probably in conjunction with Ted Cruz exposing it for the media. The sheer volume and diversity of corruption of law along these lines is damn hard to keep up with! As you know. Thanks.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by 1 year, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks for asking. This subject is rarely discussed, and it is widely accepted that regulation is a necessary and important function of government. Regulatory law often infringes on rights and requires the accused to prove themselves innocent. For example, prove that you didn't cheat on your taxes, prove that you didn't coerce the borrower into that loan, prove that you didn't cause the roof to collapse, prove that the source of those funds isn't nefarious. Even worse, the regulatory agencies serve as their own legislator, prosecutor and judge. They assign status to government. In fact, class action lawsuits are also a violation of objective law.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by VetteGuy 1 year, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm not sure I follow the second part of that. Can you give an example of how economic regulations presume guilt? (not criticizing ... just trying to understand. No "snark" intended).
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by 1 year, 9 months ago
    "Contract law has no primary authority, no jurisdiction unless invoked by the individual." By extension, all economic regulation is preemptive law, it presumes guilt, and assigns centralized authority.
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo