*sigh* No one is saying that either, Cloud. (At least, not that I see).Originally Posted by Cloud No.9
Let me please get your attention so that I can hope to show you what I mean.
The people of Africa need help. Let's suspend all of the usual statements that I feel (for your benefit) such as "Why aren't they doing anything themselves?" "Why can't they fix their problems?" "If America needed help, would anyone come to our aid?" Of course, these are reasonable questions, because the obvious answer is that the rest of the world (mostly Europe) hates America for no good reason and just wants us to pay money for Africa because they blame us somehow. OK, sorry, let's suspend all of this first before I can answer the question easier.
If Africans (I am now talking about the average, individual African) can't do anything, because their governments are that corrupt and they are dying of starvation in the street, then we really should do something. Or should we? After being told to go after and help Africa and we do, would we be policing the world? Do the people of Africa need help "somehow more somewhat" than the people of Iraq did? I'm just getting my facts straight. If we're going to jump into irrational wars that the world goads us into doing, will we (once again) be hated for our foreign policy (which is rightly hated; it's based off of everyone else's need)?
But, let's say that what you want is "passive" agression. A sort of peaceful means, such as stealing money. This is not an answer. Taxation itself isn't theft, but it can be: taxation without representation is theft. So is taxation that goes to movements, ideas, and policies that run counter to our own policies.
Yes, I hate to admit it: I am an individual, so I do have my own interests at heart. This is not bad. I am an American, so I do have America's interests at heart. This is not evil.
Taxation is only justified when it's going to a government function that is objectively defined. Taxation in America that goes to our law courts, our police, hell, even our schools, whatever, is not theft. We can argue if the taxes really should go to certain areas (should schools be publicly funded?), but no one is feeling like the government is "stealing" money. This is one of those "morally gray" areas we hear about.
The government's functions do not include charity. Once more, and please understand: the government's functions do not include charity.
I'm not the typical Objectivist (I don't know if I'm an Objectivist; I agree a hell of a lot with everything Raistlin says, but I do have a few things I don't entirely agree with). I firmly believe in the virtue of charity, and I think that helping others is a good thing. I try to help others as much as I come. I believe that this is a virtue because I think that human life is a sanctified thing, and I strive for life at all times. However, like Objectivism, I don't hold that it's a "necessary" virtue. I don't look down upon the people who don't give to charity. I believe it's a personal choice and no one should stop me.
Of course, I do not advocate suspending some virtue in order to help Africa.
I've been avoiding the practical reasons for not helping Africa, for obvious reasons. You have heard them all. "They will fund corrupt governments" being the major one. I understand that funding things they need directly can help, but first off, how do you propose to do that? Secondly, how do you know the governments will respect those things? I can imagine the government will just take over any school it sees fit. You are believing that these governments are just as bad as greedy, evil America, but in reality, these governments are much, much worse.
Do not tell me that it's just a really small price, which somehow justifies taking it from every American by force. What's really the sad part is that your destroying your best argument. I'll let you know that if that is true, I didn't realize how easy it was to help "30,000" lives a day. (I don't believe you, but saying I do.) However, if you want to raise money, you need to appeal to people's reason. Go out there; you'll find that Americans are generally happy, good people (believe it or not!) and they are more than willing to help out in charities that they understand. I told you myself that I would give you money if you could convince me it was just. You have not convinced me. If anything, you wish to chain me and make me work for it regardless of my convictions.
"But we're talking about human life!" But human life is what I'm talking about, as well. You cannot force others to do that. Yes, even if 4 billion people are at stake. No, it's not because they are black; most Americans are not as racist as you believe. If the opposite were true, and America was failing, and you were screaming at the Africans (who were doing well because they can, because they're free to do so*[see below]) to help America, I would be sick to my stomach that the handouts I received were from people who were forced to give them to me. Every bite of food I had I would know someone had to work extra for. I would feel the guilt of a thief.
If you default on the false premise that Africa needs help somehow and that Americans can be taxed something in order to pay for it somehow without being immoral somehow, I'll laugh in your face. It's the weakest argument you could ever offer a people who believe in the sanctity of human life.
*This might have something to do with it, but if Africa was free like us (or more free; imagine!) and was doing very, very well (let's say they had 25% of the world's wealth), it would not be an evil. It's perhaps important to realize that money is produced. It's not just there. Distribution of wealth is a really childish way to look at money.
