Temporal Collectivism?

Posted by krevello 8 years, 3 months ago to Philosophy
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At this point, I think most of the rational world has realized that monarchy is ludicrous. Past generations can exercise no real political or societal power over the living. Their influence, of course, cannot be avoided and proper understanding of the foundations of society and of natural law are essential to the continuing welfare of any polity. However, the exercising of power by the deceased is a necrocracy. It is the enslavement of the living to the dead and is not only immoral but functionally ludicrous. But, can governments go to far the other way? Politicians often talk about the burden of debt we leave to future generations. Isn't this a form of temporal collectivism, allowing the not-yet-born to truncate their freedoms by being overly conscientious of what they leave to the future?

Obviously, the laws of nature- to survive then thrive- demand individuals be responsible for themselves, but what's the line between doing this and living in fear of the impact our actions have on the future?


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  • Posted by ewv 8 years, 3 months ago
    The debt crisis is a moral fraud both in its intent and in the expectation that those alive in the future need accept any responsibility to sacrifice themselves in taxes for spending in their name by people long dead. The primary affect is to remove private wealth today from its owners and the economy for redistribution and crony projects of monument building, plus building in a train wreck of instability and crisis into the future, which those subjected to it cannot avoid.

    The 'temporal collectivism' also rears its ugly head in sacrificing people today to the unborn for religious mysticism and sacrifice.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 3 months ago
    Take the temporal element out and suppose they're saying modern group A shouldn't rope modern group B into paying for A's expensese without B's consent. The temporal debt argument is the same except B happens to reside in the future.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 3 months ago
    The line according to John May-nerd Keynes himself is when you can no longer afford to pay the interest on the debt and the debt is not longer in the future but in your face.

    The line is when debt repudiation is a matter of national survival no matter who it destroys citizens included. That line was crossed in 2008.
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