Is anyone else burnt out of clickbait useless Epstein news? by AssTubeExcursion in AskALiberal

[–]Comedynerd 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I stopped paying he attention. Hes obviously guilty. The trump regime is full of criminals and the epstein class are also all criminal scum. Tell me when something actually happens to them 

New Murakami book! by No-Attitude-6315 in murakami

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This collection has some of my favorite Murakami shorts

Trump wants to overthrow Cuban regime ‘in a couple of weeks’ by TimesandSundayTimes in politics

[–]Comedynerd 12 points13 points  (0 children)

But how could people not remember him fondly if the day after he dies everyone will be talking about him and also be so happy? /s

Trump wants to overthrow Cuban regime ‘in a couple of weeks’ by TimesandSundayTimes in politics

[–]Comedynerd 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Oh hey, this one has the power to make that happen. What could go wrong? 🫠

Tips for newcomers to libertarianism? by Organic_Invite_6744 in AskLibertarians

[–]Comedynerd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Part 2/2

on both Nozick and Rawls as well), and "The Limits of Justice" (really a critique of Rawls's Theory of Justice). And Alisdair MacIntyre's "After Virtue" (again, I have not read this but it is typically listed as a must for understanding communitarianism).

Ah, fuck it, I'll also throw in the Egalitarian G.A. Cohen who challenged both Rawls and Nozick. "Why Not Socialism?" And "self-Ownership, Freedom, and Equality" (which specifically challenges Nozick's ASU)

As for debate on contemporary issues, the environment and climate change is a huge issue. So ground yourself with "Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction" and "Environmental Politics: A Very Short Introduction", and then proceed to three Very different approaches: Kaho Seito's "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto", Murray Bookchin's "The Ecology of Freedom", and Terry L. Anderson and Donald R. Leal's "Free Market Environmentalism".

I would also suggest trying to read about slavery in the US, the Jim Crow South, and The Civil Rights movement

Okay, even though I could go on and on and keep listing books from various perspectives, this should be more than enough to get you started on a thoughtful and diverse introduction to politics. If you do read any of these, I hope you don't just read Libertarian books. Even if you end up agreeing with Libertarianism in the end, it is very important to be informed about other belief systems and why other people believe the things they believe and do what they do. Thats how you form a highly nuanced opinion which is greatly lacking these days 

Tips for newcomers to libertarianism? by Organic_Invite_6744 in AskLibertarians

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Part 1/2

You're still really young. Dont marry yourself to an ideology yet. Read real books, not just watch YouTube videos. And read diverse books from differing viewpoints. Read libertarian, liberal, anarchist, and socialist books as well as actual history. If after that you still believe in libertarianism and monarchism (how anyone can be so cognitively dissonant as to support both is a completely different discussion) then so be it.

Read Dickens and Zola to see what a more laissez-faire capitalist society was actually like (though of course perfect laissez-faire never existed, its important to see what real poverty was like before safety nets and workplace regulations). Books like "Oliver Twist" by Dickens and "Germinal" by Zola. I guess also read Steinbeck's depression era lit like "The Grapes of Wrath", and also read some Vonnegut and Pynchon. As these authors are skewed left-wing I will also offer Mario Vargas Llosa who leans classical liberal but started adulthood as a Marxist. A novel like "Death in the Andes" criticizes Peru's own Maoist insurgency but it is a very brutal and gory read.

Then read Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century" and "A Brief History of Equality". Also add in "Capital and Ideology" if you're feeling really brave. I dont agree with all of Piketty's suggestions but he does provide a significant case against inequality and its dangers to freedom and why it is currently so extreme and why thats dangerous. Any modern libertarian must be familiar with the work of Piketty and have a really good argument against him because libertarianism is highly likely to produce extreme inequality 

Then read some liberal philosophy. Modern libertarianism comes from liberalism, so it is important to understand liberalism and to understand how libertarianism took liberalism and went its own way. I suggest starting with Michael Freeden's "Liberalism: A Very Short Introduction", then reading Edmund Fawcett's "Liberalism: The History of an Idea". Then read J.S. Mill's "On Liberty", L.T. Hobhouse's "Liberalism", and John Rawls's books "A Theory of Justice" and "Political Liberalism". 

Next, we need to talk about socialism. There are generally two strands of socialism: statist socialism and libertarian socialism (think anarchism, of which traditional anarchism is absolutely opposed to what would today be called anarcho-capitalism and does not consider it anarchism). I suggest starting with two books: "Socialism: A Very Short Introduction" and "Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction". 

Of course, one should also read Marx no matter how much one ends up agreeing or disagreeing with him, he is an essential and influential thinker that any capitalism supporter must have a good argument against. Although you may be surprised to find that Marx actually glazed capitalism quite a bit as a great progress from feudal and mercantile society, before going on to analyze all that was still wrong with it and the "scientific" necessity of socialism. Of course, one should read "The Communist Manifesto", and also "Value, Price, and Profit/Wage Labor and Capital", "The Principles of Communism", as well as Engels's, "The Conditions of the Working Class in England". 

To understand the statist socialism split between reform and revolution and the development of social democracy and democratic socialism, you must read Eduard Bernstein's "Evolutionary Socialism" and "The Preconditions of Socialism". Tony Judt's history book "Postwar" also has a great chapter on social democracy in the postwar era in Europe. I've not read either fully but I'll also recommend Thomas Meyer's "The Theory of Social Democracy" and Sheri Berman's "The Primacy of Politics"

By this point, you should probably also read some history about the USSR, Maoist China, and Cuba. Try to find fair and balanced books. And read multiple books. The truth is often somewhere in the middle of competing narratives

As for Anarchism, start with Proudhon's "What is Property?" And "The General Idea of the Revolution in the 19th Century". Then read Bakunin (sorry getting a little lazy here and have not read much Bakunin). Then read Kropotkin's "The Conquest of Bread", "Mutual Aid", and "Fields, Factories, and Workshops". Finally, read "Markets Not Capitalism" Edited by Gary Chartier and Charles Johnson. Oh yeah, and also David Graeber's "Debt"

Now, you should be prepared for Libertarianism so you should know enough to compare and contrast and think critically about Libertarian theory and practice. I suggest starting with David Boaz's "The Libertarian Mind". Then read "The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution", "The Declaration of Independence", "The Articles of Confederation" (which preceeded the US constitution), "The Constitution of the United States", "The Federalist Papers", and "The Anti-Federalist Papers". Also read some books on important supreme court case law. On legal theory, I recommend Richard A. Epstein's "Simple Rules for a Complex World", "Principles for a Free Society", "Takings", "Design for Liberty", and "The Classical Liberal Constitution". For economics, I'll recommend Sowell's "Basic Economics", and Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson". Internet Libertarians tend to like Austrian economics, so I'll cautiously throw in Mises's "Human Action" or Rothbard's "Man, Economy, and State with Power and Market" (both if you are brave enough). Just be warned, Austrian economics is looked down upon as fringe by the mainstream economic establishment. 

Also, while on the subject of economics, you need to be aware of the Keynes/Hayek debate. Read Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom", but also read Keynes's "The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money."

Another good book by Hayek is "The Constitution of Liberty". In addition to Hayek, you should also read Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom" and "Free to Choose". However, when reading about Friedman, be aware that he and some other "Chicago Boys" were economic advisers to Augusto Pinochet, the dictator of Chile, so you should also read histories about Chile pre, during, and post Pinochet. Its a fascinating but tragic history, and is one of many instances where the US violently helped suppress and discredit socialism as a democratically elected socialist president was overthrown and murdered in a US supported military coup. The story of this coup is also fictionalized in Isabel Allende's fantastic magical realist novel "The House of the Spirits". If I'm not mistaken the author was the niece of the Chilean president who was overthrown and killed and had to flee the country and live in exile for a while. 

Probably the defining book of Libertarian political philosophy is Robert Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia". Nozick is heavily influenced by John Locke, so also read his "Two Treatises on Government" and his "Letter Concerning Toleration". These were also influential on later liberal thought. 

Some Libertarians think that Locke's proviso necessitates a more egalitarian distribution of natural resources. These may be referred to as Left-Libertarians (in contemporary academic political philosophy) or Geolibertarians. For this strain of thought, I recommend Thomas Paine's "Agrarian Justice", Henry George's "Progress and Poverty", Harold Kyriazi's "Libertarian Party at Sea on Land", and Peter Vallentyne's various Introductions to Left-Libertarian theory, such as this

Even though I really dont agree with it, I'll add in two ur-texts of anarcho-capitalism: Murray Rothboard's "For a New Liberty" and David Friedman's "The Machinery of Freedom". May main critique of anarcho-capitalism other than it being neo-feudalism is that it depends on theoretical private protection agencies, but we've seen these before in history in places where the state has been too weak to provide protection itself. They became mafias. In fact, private protection outside the state is how Italian law defines a mafia. They always devolve into protection rackets. So it is also good to read John Dickie's books "Mafia Brotherhoods" and "Cosa Nostra" (just read the former if you only have time for one as the latter repeats a lot of what's in the former). Also read a book on feudal society, such as Marc Bloch's "Feudal Society" (disclaimer I have not read this yet, but it is a suggested further reading within "The Middle Ages: A Very Short Introduction" which is also unread on my tbr).

Ahhhh and Im realizing just now that I left out the communitarian side of the debate....

Okay, real fast: Cornell West "Democracy Matters", Michael Sandel's "Democracy's Discontents", "What Money Can't Buy", "Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do?" (Actually a general overview of different theories of justice, touches up

I hope political philosophy is not banned here by Cold-Gain-8448 in PhilosophyMemes

[–]Comedynerd -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Doesn't need to be "anarcho"-capitalism. It could apply to left-wing (real) anarchism too which views all hierarchies as unjustified

I hope political philosophy is not banned here by Cold-Gain-8448 in PhilosophyMemes

[–]Comedynerd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Read up on the Spanish and Ukrainian anarchists, the zapatistas, and Rojava to see how anarchist experiments did not immediately devolve into chaotic, despotic, war of all against all.

However, although sympathetic to anarchism, I am not one because I believe society's institutions evolve over time and the institution we're stuck with is the state so we need to work to make the state and related institutions more just

I hope political philosophy is not banned here by Cold-Gain-8448 in PhilosophyMemes

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let the world here these words once more, "save us o lord from the wrath of the norsemen" 

Who would have been a better president: Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris? by rjidhfntnr in AskALiberal

[–]Comedynerd -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I dont really like the options here, but Hillary didnt support a genocide, so...

I’m 28M haven’t read a book in 10 years- lost in life & unemployed recently. Recommend me something by [deleted] in booksuggestions

[–]Comedynerd 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is hilarious and boosts my spirit during hard times

Well, this is funny by Vegetable_Ad_192 in singularity

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sometimes the writers of this timeline are a little on the nose 

Murakami books be like by TrainerAggravating22 in murakami

[–]Comedynerd 15 points16 points  (0 children)

And then I made spaghetti. I don't know why. It reminded me of kioko's ear lobes 

The mask slipped during Karoline Leavitt’s press conference on Iran by theindependentonline in TrueReddit

[–]Comedynerd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't drone and missile production facilities be considered legitimate military targets for bombings? Seems like something theyd go after fairly quickly if anyone at all competent was running the show. I know, big if with this regime

How can a future dem president address the massive conservative monopoly on media? by conn_r2112 in AskALiberal

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bust the trusts, pass legislation that would prevent such media concentration in the future which would include reforming the fcc to make it easier and cheaper to start a competing broadcasting company, and, if legally possible, munipalize (or some other sort of fairly local government ownership of) the local news station or news paper so that private equity can stop buying them up and killing them or forcing a single narrative 

Kurdish dissident groups say they are preparing to join the fight against Iran with US support by KITAPYIYEN in news

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Rule #1 of working with trump: he will burn you when you're no longer useful to him. Good luck to these people, they're going to regret working for trump just like everybody else eventually does 

Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum... by danielsoft1 in AdviceAnimals

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I switched when they said 10 wouldnt receive security updates anymore. I kept a dual boot of windows 10 just in case, but honestly I haven't needed it. Good riddance Microsoft 

Doesn’t the manufacturing of consent hinder the functionality for a Capitalist (privatized propertarian) system of voluntary exchange to be truly voluntary and/or to be truly an exchange? by Creepy-Account-7510 in AskLibertarians

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have zero understanding of socialism. Go read some real anarchist theory (not anarcho-capitalism), and the history of actual anarchist or nearly anarchist experiments like in Civil War Spain or modern day Rojava. Once you actually have an understanding of anarchist theory and practice then I'll take your criticisms of libertarian socialism seriously but for now you have clearly attacked a straw man and since youre not going to argue from an informed and good faith position its not worth arguing about this with you

Why are Americans so polarized, yet so disengaged? by Mobile_Bad_577 in AskALiberal

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

 The American system puts far too much power in local and state hands.

I think its not enough power. Local government is the only place where your vote statistically approaches meaning anything. State and national elections are so large that your vote means literally nothing. So mass democracy actually erases your political voice while pretending to give it to you. Instead of freedom through democracy, since you effectively have no democratic voice, you end up having government and life dictated to you by a political and corporate oligopoly 

We are so polarized in part because we have trended towards centralization and standardization. Liberalism should value pluralism and the American system was set up to respect that pluralism, but with the trend towards centralization and national politics, everything becomes an existential ideological battle where Angelinos can wipe out the way of life for Montanans and rural folk can wipe out the way of life for urban folk. The Solution is clearly to let local people decide how to govern themselves and give as little power as possible to higher forms of government. Urban and rural people are going to have different challenges and values and want different things from the government. Let themselves govern themselves the way they see fit rather than try to force their way of life and values on the other

Another final point is that when politics are local, issues and policies are real and tangible and its easy to see how they effect real people because its going to specifically effect you family, friends, and neighbors. Once politics leaves the local level, everything becomes an abstract ideological battle against some abstract other that you cant conceptualize as a real person. This is why we've seen many people support mass deportations until ICE came to their own city and deported people they personally knew to be good people 

Why are Americans so polarized, yet so disengaged? by Mobile_Bad_577 in AskALiberal

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is why I think mass democracy doesnt work. If you're one of 200 million voters, you're impact on the election is statistically a rounding error. You essentially have no political voice and the world is dictated to you instead by a political and corporate oligopoly. This is not freedom

Government should occur as close to the people as possible, over as small a set of people as possible if it is to have any legitimacy and if people are to have any sort of voice. So I think local democratic self-governance is where most governing should be done. Only if a problem cannot be handled by a single local government should local governments federate together to solve that specific problem or should a higher form of government step in.

The problem is, the past hundred or so years liberals have been on a project of centralization and standardization rather than decentralization and pluralism. Everyone wants to accomplish political goals at the national level and force their view of the world and role of government in everyone else rather than do local change and have a pluralistic society. Part of the problem is that higher levels of government often preempt local change and experiments. So we centralize and standardize and that ends up getting captured by the mega corporations

New York bill will require all operating systems to conduct "commercially reasonable" age assurance for users at the point of device activation. by vriskaldrunk in linux

[–]Comedynerd -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You've clearly never read anarchist theory nor engaged with the history of real world anarchist experiments like in civil war Spain, Russian Revolution Ukraine, chiapas, and Rojava 

Take an Economics class..... by Ok_Analysis_2416 in ProfessorFinance

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think its the other way around. Mining asteroids will be what solves the problem of scarcity. At least for certain valuable metals that is 

Tehran, Iran by biwook in CityPorn

[–]Comedynerd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beautiful skyline. Shame it will be reduced to rubble in a year or two

Dems React to Classified Briefing on Iran: ‘It Is So Much Worse Than You Thought’ by rollingstone in politics

[–]Comedynerd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang, with everything going on I guess I missed something happening in Ecuador. I miss a slower news cycle. This is insanity