Should libertarians work for the government at all?

Luke H's picture
Submitted by Luke H on Sun, 2008-09-07 14:10.

The debate over Jameson working with the Nats strikes me as a potential opener for a slightly different debate: whether libertarians should work for the government at all.

For instance, Scott Wilson of the Libz once worked for the Ministry of Transport. Consequently he is able to provide extremely insightful transport policy and commentary (although there were restrictions to what he could say about transport under his real name while he worked there). Phil Howison is currently working (a temp job) for KiwiBank, Anderton's baby. (On the one hand, it is profit-making and owned rather than directly controlled by the government, but on the other, it was set up with stolen money).

From a practical point of view, I would much rather have a libertarian doing any given government job than a Labour voter. Not only will their salary be going to a good person, they might have the opportunity to make pro-liberty choices that help people.

From my own personal perspective, though, I am happy to have been able to avoid working for the government. I have a Psychology Masters degree, and most jobs in psychology are working in either the public health system or Corrections. I didn't want to work in any job where I would have contact with bureaucracy (the thought alone makes me want to vomit). I am gainfully employed by a private company as a web designer. Little connection with psychology, but I enjoy it.

Finally, it is worth nothing that anybody working a job where they pay tax is "working for the government" (against their will) for somewhere between 18 and 39% of their time.


( categories: )

third dimension

unsub's picture

Travelling well, Luke. Great stuff. Thank you.


Time travel

Luke H's picture

So I take it Sus does not contribute to Libz/SOLO?

Sus is a fantastic contributor to Libz, and she often appears in the Free Radical magazine.  I don't think I have seen her on SOLO.


Is Capital Times a Radio Station in NZ?

It is a local Wellington paper.


So Leighton is married to Sus then? I mean, he LIKES her, yes?

Um.  Er.  Sorry, I'm not sure if I am ready to be transported back to third form.


Dear Luke H

unsub's picture

Oh! Ok. Thanks for clearing that up. So I take it Sus does not contribute to Libz/SOLO?

How strange. Ah well. Kindly refer Mr Hubbard for his perception.

Yes, thank you for pointing things out. I rely heavily on Media Coordinators.

Is Capital Times a Radio Station in NZ?

Really? So Leighton is married to Sus then? I mean, he LIKES her, yes?


Shari

Luke H's picture

Dear unsub,

 You keep hearing Sus on the radio because Leighton Smith likes her, and she has become a regular fixture on his show.

Bernard appears in the media regularly as well; I pointed you in the direction of an interview he had with the Capital Times, for instance.

No, he is not married to Sus.  She lives in Auckland; he lives in Wellington.  He is married to someone else.

Luke H


Dear Media Coordinator

unsub's picture

Been pondering some matters.

If Brandon is the Leader, why do I keep hearing a female's voice on Newstalk talking from Libz Headquarters?

Is Sue married to Brandon?


Otaki

unsub's picture

Hello Gregster,

Yes, it was cold waiting out on the porch. But I used to live in Otaki. Been in Auckland since 2001 after taking many different roads. Many bends still.

Pills, huh? Now there's something that never crossed my mind. Perhaps I should ask Luke what ones to take seeing he's a Masters at Psychology and all.

If I do go to bed, will you read to me?


Hydra's Heir

gregster's picture

It's getting cold and late down there in Otaki. Take your pills before bed, there's a good girl.


spiked

unsub's picture

Why is everyone around here afraid of questions?

Why is there division amongst you guys?

I remain flattered.


Not my Poetry unsub

PhilipD's picture

 It's Spike Milligan's as I said, so no need to be flattered.

Psychoanalyse? That will mean more questions, right?

Pass.

"The ultimate result of shielding men from folly is to fill the world with fools."

-Herbert Spencer 


on rhyme and reason

unsub's picture

Dear Mr Duck,

Wonderful poetry. I am flattered. I note you have been a member for 10 weeks. I have been, but for 4 days.

If you belted me with a shoe? Why would you want to do that? What would inspire you to remove your shoe, and belt another with it?

Let's assume you have already belted me with your shoe. Would I fall down dead? Depends on how big your shoe is; and the force by which you belt me.

Let's assume your shoe is big; and you have strength. Would I fall down dead? But I've already died 10 times over. What's another death?

If I were dead, I may be in bed. It depends again on where I was when you belted me with your shoe.

So if I am dead in bed; would I be liberated from this world? I don't know.

I do know you will be charged with murder. So, best think things right through.

Lie down on the couch. I'll psychoanalyse you.

 


Luke

PhilipD's picture

Sterling job on answering all these questions. Perhaps you or any of the Libz can help with some of S. Milligan's more important ones.:)

Luke how does an elephant feel
When he swallows a piece of steel?
Does he get drunk
And fall on his trunk
Or roll down the road like a wheel?

Luke what would a pelican do
If he swallowed a bottle of glue?
Would his beak get stuck
Would he run out of luck
And lose his job at the zoo?

unsub tell me tell me true
If I belted you with a shoe
Would you fall down dead?
Would you go up to bed?
Either of those would do

Sorry, but she is doing my head in. Probably her purpose, I know...


I had sherry

unsub's picture

Well, well. It appears I was in the company of fine-minded men by proxy. Cigars and brandy in the drawing room, gents?

Luke, I was interested in your opnion of the DSM because I note you have a Masters in Psychology. Did you know Dr Moskowitz (UoA)? I believe he is in Scotland now.

I came across the concept of 'eugenics'; and somehow made a connection with psychological impairment. Hence, DSM.

Gregster, don't know the Dunedin School of Medicine; but I heard of a longitudinal study being carried out that-a-ways. Dr Silva?

Luke, yes, good research skills. One must deviate on the odd occasion to unburden one's mind. More brandy?

Elijah, what's that music you are playing over there? "O Death?" OBWAT? Watcha smoking, boy?

Speaking of which, Luke, your leader is rather young, no? 38? Married? Chidren? I see he lost to Franks the last time around. Why does he not join forces with Stephen? A fine legal mind, that one.

I get what you say about your policies. So that pretty much wraps that up.

So what you fellas gonna do to shake things up around here? Is Sue standing for an electorate anywhere in Auckland? She sounds like she could move a thing or two up this ways.

Speaking of ways, I lived in Otaki and worked in Levin from 92-96. Prior to that, I was in Khandallah. Drove through New Plymouth once. They have this amazing playground.

Anyway, I learned about the Kiwi way of life at The Dungeon near the Beehive. Spent time with some ole foggies. Visited The Thistle a couple of mornings with a Dutch plasterer. There's where I learned about smoko time. I actually plastered a few columns in a building over there. Ah good times, as KID would say.

I have been rambling, huh? Almost 4.30, so better get to the Mind, Memory & Soul.

Cheers!


"I had sherry" ..ha

Elijah's picture

"I had sherry" ..ha ha...makes you seem like a country vicar Sticking out tongue

http://www.nzcapitalist.blogspot.com/


xcellent research Luke

gregster's picture

Smiling


DSM

Luke H's picture

It could also be Des Moines (Iowa), Dirty Sexy Money (tv show), Direct Stiffness Method, Digital Surface Model, and Distinguished Service Medal.  Smiling

PS:  'Shari Hyder' rearranges to 'I Had Sherry' and 'Hydra's Heir'.  Sticking out tongue


Could be

gregster's picture

the Dunedin School of Medicine?


DSM

Luke H's picture

The DIagnostic and Statistical Manual?  It's a respected reference book.  I don't have any particular objections to it.  My classes discussed the possibility of including caffeine withdrawal as a specific disorder, which was an interesting debate (the consensus was that it wasn't serious enough to be included).


Luke H

unsub's picture

What's your opinion on the DSM?


Luke

Lindsay Perigo's picture

"The growth of government institutions has destroyed an incalculable number of private jobs and opportunities for private employment. This is more apparent in some professions (as, for instance, teaching) than in others, but the octopus of the 'public sector' is choking and draining the 'private sector' in virtually every line of work. Since men have to work for a living, the opponents of the welfare state do not have to condemn themselves to the self-martyrdom of a self-restricted labor market—particularly when so many private employers are in the vanguard of the advocates and profiteers of welfare statism."

A certain lady of note said that, in her article, "The Question of Scholarships."

I certainly agree with her.

Linz (ex-NZBC, ex-TVNZ, ex-RNZ)


NO!   On election

Elijah's picture

NO!  

On election day...tick the LIBERTARIANZ box...


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