Thoughts on forced evacuation.

[digitaldiscipline]

Elsewhere, it was suggested that forcing the remaining residents of the disaster that is New Orleans is the right thing to do. I disagree with this concept.

If people want to make unsafe decisions that could adversely affect their own welfare, they bloody well ought to be able to. If we take the stance that the remaining residents need to be removed, against their will for their own safety, to its logical conclusion, any potentially hazardous activity becomes illegal, from buying a beer to rock climbing. "We are the government, and we are here to protect you from yourself." No f'ing thanks.

The situation we have today, of mandatory safety legislation, frivolous lawsuits brought by people who, through their own stupidity, brought harm to themselves, is the beginning of this.

Darwin has failed us enough - let the stupid limit their own opportunities to breed. Legalize drugs, abolish helmet laws - but if you harm yourself, you waive your right to blame anyone else.

Freedom equals responsibility. I would much rather have both than neither.

Comments

[fenixinthedark.livejournal.com]

That's a fascinating premise. Let me play devils advocate for a moment, however.

Darwinism doesn't just favor the smartest, but also the strongest/fittest. In fact, sometimes stronger/more stupid can beat the ever loving crap out of smart/weaker. If we allowed utter anarchy, I wonder if it might actually benefit the physically stronger (but not as bright) elements. Thoughts?

[etcet.livejournal.com]

There's a school of thought that contends that cleverness is occasionally a survival trait - the big, strong cavemen were occasionally crushed by the mammoth, whereas the guy who said, "you know, scaring it over the side of that cliff might work better" got to console the grieving, if hirsute, new widows.

large numbers of smart people make the things that make life easier work - utilities, the internet, oil refineries - killing them off is short-sighted.

of course, taking the long view is kind of what distinguishes one type from another, not simply physical prowess - there are many strong, smart people, and many dumb weak ones.

if there was a way to weed out -evil- people, regardless of net worth or IQ or bench press max....

[fenixinthedark.livejournal.com]

if there was a way to weed out -evil- people, regardless of net worth or IQ or bench press max...

Well said, agreed, and I reiterate the earlier comment of "good luck".

Unfortunately, so long as people remain lazy enough to engender complacency and apathy (as we have at present), I see us continuing down a path that inevitably ends in the loss of still more (if not all) of our rights at the hands of those that I do believe are evil (by my rather esoteric definition, anyway). "Stupidity" isn't merely IQ. It's consciousness and wisdom. And right now, most people are happier being blissfully ignorant (regardless of the fact that some have IQ's high enough to warrant membership in MENSA), which gives those who are selfish and power hungry free rein to wreak havoc on those they see as nothing better than a resource to tap to support their own selfishness and greed.

[the-yellow-king.livejournal.com]

etcet's comments are very on the spot. Ditto as to what he says.

On a different tangent, I agree that anarchy would create a "Might Is Right" situation wherein the intelligent would be at a disadvantage betimes. Thus, anarchy cannot be supported. Instead, laws must be utilized to establish a particular fairness...one that supports the idea of Darwinistic action and, if necessary, forces the populace to accept responsibility for their own actions.

The tenets of ancient Chinese legalism tend towards the establishment of such a society.

[fenixinthedark.livejournal.com]

The tenets of ancient Chinese legalism tend towards the establishment of such a society.

Ooooooo. Now you have my curiosity piqued. Do you have any good links, or should I just google it?

[the-yellow-king.livejournal.com]

The wikipedia article on it is fairly sufficient. See here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Legalism)

[fenixinthedark.livejournal.com]

Perfect. Thanks! :)