Alright sure, this is valid. But it drastically reduces your point from arguing about the ideals of liberty to just pragmatically having a device you find useful. "I don't care about the destruction of liberty because I might get a toy" isn't a compelling argument.
> We've got so little in common, it'd be difficult to even describe how far apart we are
Except you know, we probably actually aren't. I recognize your nick from early reddit, like a decade and a half ago at this point? Generally found your points agreeable, from my libertarian perspective. And yet here we are now, arguing on completely opposite sides.
> Which liberty do you no longer have, that you had one year ago?
The natural right of free speech is under open attack by these attempts to make universities obey the whims of an autocratic executive. Even not being in college, and not even really agreeing with the speech being used as a strawman here, that is still an infringement upon my rights. Just as say, drug prohibition is an infringement upon my rights even though I'm not really big into drugs.
> The argument that was most likely to convince me to be concerned is glossed over [economy]
I didn't gloss it over - I referenced it. Go read any of the economics threads where these arguments are hashed out. Here's one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44057663 . Maybe my coming from more of an Austrian economics analysis might actually ring true for you in some ways? I would love to hear where I'm wrong, but from what I've seen responses either fall into repeating talking points, nihilism, or ghosting the conversation.
It's most certainly true that the elites (US politicians and corporate class) have sold out the US worker with the monetary policies of the past few decades. The problem is that the Republican party is always stuck on complaining about being had by the last over-and-done con, with that energy going into supporting the setup for the next con. And I don't see how it's any different this time.
> maybe unpleasant for you
The destruction of our societal institutions, bureaucratic checks and balances, our economy, and our standing in the world are going to make things quite unpleasant for all of us. You just haven't realized it yet.
Alright sure, this is valid. But it drastically reduces your point from arguing about the ideals of liberty to just pragmatically having a device you find useful. "I don't care about the destruction of liberty because I might get a toy" isn't a compelling argument.
> We've got so little in common, it'd be difficult to even describe how far apart we are
Except you know, we probably actually aren't. I recognize your nick from early reddit, like a decade and a half ago at this point? Generally found your points agreeable, from my libertarian perspective. And yet here we are now, arguing on completely opposite sides.
> Which liberty do you no longer have, that you had one year ago?
The natural right of free speech is under open attack by these attempts to make universities obey the whims of an autocratic executive. Even not being in college, and not even really agreeing with the speech being used as a strawman here, that is still an infringement upon my rights. Just as say, drug prohibition is an infringement upon my rights even though I'm not really big into drugs.
> The argument that was most likely to convince me to be concerned is glossed over [economy]
I didn't gloss it over - I referenced it. Go read any of the economics threads where these arguments are hashed out. Here's one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44057663 . Maybe my coming from more of an Austrian economics analysis might actually ring true for you in some ways? I would love to hear where I'm wrong, but from what I've seen responses either fall into repeating talking points, nihilism, or ghosting the conversation.
It's most certainly true that the elites (US politicians and corporate class) have sold out the US worker with the monetary policies of the past few decades. The problem is that the Republican party is always stuck on complaining about being had by the last over-and-done con, with that energy going into supporting the setup for the next con. And I don't see how it's any different this time.
> maybe unpleasant for you
The destruction of our societal institutions, bureaucratic checks and balances, our economy, and our standing in the world are going to make things quite unpleasant for all of us. You just haven't realized it yet.