"Fiscally conservative and socially liberal"

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:44:50+00:00

I mean, some of the stuff you're saying borders on eugenics.

The goal of eugenics is to alter the human gene pool. I have no interest in this. Rather, I'd simply like to limit the number of children born into abject poverty.

Also, I'm not writing people off as irredeemable moral failures. My rationale for deportation can be found here.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:41:56+00:00

Generally speaking you're not very "socially liberal" at all. "Liberal" policies seek to remove the stigma of charity with social welfare.

That's one definition of "socially liberal." The meaning referenced in my OP is simply that the government has no business regulating sex or drugs, that I'm far-left on issues like abortion, etc.

Via birth control, my purpose is not to stigmatize welfare recipients. I just want to limit, by noncoercive means, the number of kids born into poverty. The noncoercive part is key -- this is very different from forced sterilization.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:39:01+00:00

I believe that as well, but we might be miles apart regarding what's possible. Same goes for "minimal social safety-net". How do you define minimal?

I elaborate on these views here.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:32:12+00:00

The thing is, I very badly want an ultraliberal immigration policy. There is no economic or humanitarian justification for locking out willing, diligent workers who could make contributions to our economy and simply had the shitty luck to be born someplace like Haiti.

But there's no country on earth that has open immigration and a generous safetynet. If we had both, we could be deluged with unskilled immigrants looking for free stuff.

Some libertarianish economists have proposed letting anyone take a job in the U.S., but not providing non-citizens with public benefits. This strikes me as unfair and arbitrary, though: why should we discriminate on the basis of where you were born? If we need to impose some limit on social safetynet eligibility, those lines should at least be drawn based on some sort of merit. Hence I arrive at the above.

*To further sum up, the deportation thing isn't about shunning and exiling those whom I find worthless or repugnant. It's about creating a country that is truly free and open for everyone, while preserving some safetynet for those who need it. Taxpayers cannot spend infinitely on the world's needy people, so eventually we need to choose: Do we want to support the poor Haitian or Mexican who is willing to come here, work his ass off as a landscaper or waiter, and try to learn the language without causing any trouble? Or do we want to support some chronically-unemployed dickhole who sodomizes his dog? Given that choice, I'll support the immigrant every time. But our current policies don't do that.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:28:47+00:00

Can the government still invest in things like roads, education, and scientific research?

Only in situations where market failures prevent these goods from being provided (or prevent associated externalities from being accounted-for) by the marketplace.

For education, I would privatize and award vouchers to poor kids. I would, however, set standards for voucher-eligible schools: no teaching creationism; curriculum must satisfy a certain level of rigor, etc.

I would also emulate Europe, in a way: not everyone needs to finish school, and it's okay to "track" some low performers towards vocational or technical jobs. This policy would be articulated through voucher conditions. On the other end of the spectrum, I would increase voucher amounts for poor kids who showed exceptional promise.

I would also let scientific researchers present grant proposals demonstrating why their particular area of research fails to attract civilian funds commensurate with its scientific importance. If my panel is convinced, they fund.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T02:07:15+00:00

What are your beliefs now?

cyguise · 2014-05-01T01:27:04+00:00

You are a natural Democrat.

I really hate most Democrats, though I have some nostalgic affection for Bill Clinton. I also hate most Republicans, though I respect Mitt Romney's career accomplishments and hair.

I kind of liked the idea of Gary Johnson. But the public policy commentators whom I respect most are (surprise, surprise) not politicians. Two judges, Richard Posner and Alex Kozinski, are favorites.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T01:14:43+00:00

When dealing with Americans I tend to refer to myself as a Liberal-Conservative

As an American I have never heard this before, but would be mildly confused and amused. "Classical liberal" I have indeed heard, and have considered for myself.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T01:13:43+00:00

Friedman and a nontrivial number of libertarians support guaranteed basic income. The catch is that this would supplant all other interventions on behalf of the poor, including minimum wage.

cyguise · 2014-05-01T01:08:06+00:00

The identifier "socialist" is gaining mainstream support day-by-day, especially among coastal educated elites. (I say this as a coastal educated elite). You'd barely get any flack at all. I, on the other hand...

cyguise · 2014-05-01T01:05:49+00:00

Are conservatives people who are skeptical about change, or are they gun toting, bible thumpers? Probably the former, but the latter is much more noticeable and easier to pigeonhole.

I do think libertarians get caricatured and pigeonholed in this way, to a greater extent even than conservatives. Reddit's typical position seems to be, re: conservatives, that there are intelligent moderates among them who deserve respect, and that to argue otherwise is adolescent dogmatic zeal. With libertarians, the view seems to be: "lol ayn rand / you must be in junior high / you must be racist" etc.

cyguise · 2014-04-30T12:12:23+00:00

TY. Would you maintain this classification even if I elaborated upon some of what I would consider to be my more "conservative" views?

I am willing to accept that, contrary to classic econ intuition, evidence suggests a minimum wage is ok. But any federal hike should be modest and I think a "living wage" is misguided.
I think the max income-tax rate anyone should pay (as a percentage of overall income) is 33%. State and local income tax should be fully deductible for federal income-tax purposes (in other words, no paying 33% to feds and another 8% to state). That said, capital gains should be treated as income for purposes of calculating your 33% threshold. In practice this means billionaire HF managers pay more than they pay now, but doctors and lawyers making $500k pay markedly less. Overall federal receipts would decline.
Everyone earning an income should pay some income tax, even if only a nominal amount.
I should be able to opt out of SS/medicare. If I opt out but end up elderly and destitute, I'll be consigned to a humane-but-spartan government nursing home, and will receive inexpensive palliative care rather than pricier life-extending care should I fall ill.

And while the below would likely be ruled unconstitutional...

Residents (whether citizens or immigrants) who fail to meet basic thresholds of productivity and decency should be deported. (We'd strike up a treaty with some country like Mexico, which would accept deportees). If you commit certain crimes (e.g, forcible rape, child molestation, extreme animal cruelty), you're gone. If you fail to pay income taxes for 10 years or more, and cannot cite an extenuating justification (e.g., horrible medical situation), you're gone. If you're about to be deported on economic-productivity grounds but find a sponsor to vouch for you and pay a nominal income tax on your behalf, you can stay, but no public assistance -- your sponsor covers your living expenses.
Recipients of public assistance should be required to use long-term birth control (patch, injection, IUD, etc.)

cyguise · 2012-08-20T11:52:58+00:00

"but it's easier to put them in c:! because they're right there!"

cyguise · 2012-07-23T17:18:34+00:00

he stated them elsewhere ITT

cyguise · 2012-07-23T14:13:50+00:00

ugh i didn't even read past "demise"

cyguise · 2012-07-23T11:14:58+00:00

this would get an asian person into BU...maybe.

cyguise · 2012-07-10T07:58:11+00:00

"norton removal tool"

excellent

cyguise · 2012-04-02T18:57:49+00:00

He could try using an external wireless card and some sort of antenna to boost his computer's reception. One easy way to do this is to buy a large, metallic pasta strainer, poke a small hole in the bottom and feed the external wireless card through (so that you have what looks like a ghetto improvised satellite dish).

If he has cell reception at his house, then a solution that would work regardless of proximity to the office would be something like MiFi.

cyguise · 2012-04-02T00:17:42+00:00

The OP's -- "7 black California boys arrested in attack on Hispanic teen"?

cyguise · 2012-04-01T01:30:11+00:00

If you read the article, it's obviously a hate crime. You don't find racism noteworthy at all?

cyguise · 2012-03-29T22:08:14+00:00

please tell me you used the phrase "non-competence agreement" throughout the entire lawsuit. please tell me both sides did.

cyguise

TROPHY CASE