From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Fri Apr 25 2003 - 14:53:53 BST
Hi Wim:
> You wrote 24 Apr 2003 11:14:50 -0400:
> 'I'm all for eliminating taxes. I never heard a liberal say that.'
>
> Then I must be liberal by American standards (even though the political
> parties that call themselves 'liberal' in the Netherlands do so to refer to
> relative 'freedom from government intervention'). 'Liberal' in the
> Netherlands stands for right-wing. Being a member of the Green-Left party,
> I support a democratical government (financed by taxes) that leaves enough
> freedom for the market to create the wealth we need, but limits greed and
> over-exploitation of the environment that would result in social
> instability and ecological disaster. (Proper democracy -as in the
> Netherlands- doesn't create 'mob-rule', as you called it recently, but
> space for decision-making on the basis of rational balancing of interests.)
Yes, you are liberal by American standards. You basically a left-wing
socialist. I am a right-wing capitalist.
> You have often quoted with approval:
> 'The instrument of conversation between society and biology has always been
> a policeman or a soldier and his gun.' ('Lila' chapter 24) How should this
> policeman and this soldier and his gun be financed according to you, if not
> with taxes???? And the war against Iraq, which you supported??
I led you astray. When I said I'm for eliminating taxes I meant to convey
that I'm for reducing the overall tax burden which would require
eliminating a lot of taxes such as the personal income tax. The proper
role of government is to defend society against criminals, both inside
and outside. The rest I would prefer to leave to private enterprise. As
history shows, governments, representing the "Giant," are extremely
dangerous to human welfare. The colonial history of the Netherlands is
just one example, but by no means the worst. :-)
Platt
> In the Netherlands anyone who would propose eliminating taxes would not be
> taken serious. Can you plase explain why I should take you serious when you
> do?
>
> With friendly greetings,
>
> Wim
>
>
>
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