Comments by "Xyz Same" (@xyzsame4081) on "Rationality Rules" channel.

  1. Evolution set us up to be highly SOCIAL beings - the opposite of liberterians. And the group was for a long time more important than the individual. It depended how harsh circumstance were and how much they had to struggle to survive. But usually conformity was normal, expected and - subtly - enforced. Same is true for geneours and peace keeping behavior inside the group. Groups that struggled less could afford to be more lenient - but not too much deviation regarding religion, gender roles, how to dress, behave, sexuality and what was allowed to eat were accepted. Group cohension was very, very important. Freedom of speech and religion wasn't a thing and did not even make sense in that context. They literally could not THINK otherwise. They group was all they had - disagreeing much was not an option. That does not mean they felt oppressed - they were used to it since they were children. (That's why we are not good with it these liberties and need laws) In order to not undermine group cohesion competition was channeled into fun events. Wrestling matches, using spears for the males, the women compared the clothes and their children. And they could not allow sexual tensions to build up. So there were norms for sexual behavior if there were open "marriages" or if fidelity was expected. If sex before marriage was allowed, etc.
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  2. Libertarianism is glorified selfishness (in combination with vanity and little reflection)
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  3. Put the convinced Libertarian into an Amish community (no big gov. and I think less taxes). Also not much possibility to LEVERAGE the work of OTHER people. And since that society is not into industrial mass production or technology or science or consumerism you cannot leverage that either. As Isaac Newton said: If I saw farther it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants. - if you then get rich you can keep it all to yourself. (hint: you will not be able to amass a lot more than your peers. That society does not even offer that opportunity. Maybe a person has a green thumb or is good with animals and that gives them leverage. or they know how to produce food that the outsiders like to buy - but then they already interact with the "system") Those close knit societies offer LESS personal freedome (that is typical throughout human history). My setting is somewhat generous. For the example to be intellectually honest as libertarian you would need to live in a remote area with NO metals (with stone tools, at the level of the First nations, without needing the "system". And of course alone or only with a small circle of people. No modern medicine either, no mobile phones, no modern materials, no help if you run out of food, fuel, or break your leg. The Amish do not mine iron ore - they still profit to some degree from modern society. If they do not want to produce nails they can buy them now much cheaper than they used to be before the industrial revolution, or even in the 19th century. . But they can likely get a good prices for their artisan bread, pickles, organic vegetables. see the children's book little house in the prairie and the series - it gives an insight how things like shoes, metal parts, a stove, the cotton for clothes were much more expensive compared to income. The Amis also have the advantage that they can use the streets with the buggies, they can use public transportation and modern medicine. Law enforcement protects them (indirectly). it would easy to steal their cattle or drive them off porperty if you assemble a gang with semi-automatics. They have not the typical valuables that attract burglars - TV sets, mobil phones, jewels, designer clothes) - and regarding everything else the justice system protects them. So if people just would take their houses and acres - the government would intervene on their behalf. Additionally there is strong social pressure that you should never be idle and must work at all times (incl. volunteering). They do have some medical inssues due to inbreeding (despite having a healthy lifestyle) - so they pay out of pocket if they need treatment for the children with genetic diseases. Guess what: you are expected to help out if you are doing better than the family that has high costs. If is not "taxation" but it is not really free either.
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