Can an immoral act become moral if enough people participate or demand it be done? How many people does it take to make a immoral act moral?
Ah I can hear it now, Martin - no number of people can make an immoral act moral. Immoral is immoral no matter if is one or a million committing the act.
Are you sure their is not a thresh hold in which the number of people involved in a immoral act flips it to moral or at least makes it acceptable? Believe it or not their is a number most of us accept the flip from immoral to moral/acceptable. We just have to settle on a number. Is it 1? 3? 10? 100? 100,000? 1,000,000? A hint - It is a price we pay for a “civilized society”. Ever hear or have someone tell you that quote? I’m sure most if not all have been told this or at least heard it.
Back around 1985 -1986 when I was an officer in the state Libertarian party a man by the name of Marshall Fritz was making the rounds in the state Libertarian Party circuit making his case for his new organization - Advocates of Self Government https://www.theadvocates.org
He had a thought provoking story he told to various organizations Libertarian, Rotary Clubs, who ever invited him.
The story went something like this.
Friday evening after work a guy meets you outside the door between your car and the office - nice enough guy he chatted up was mild mannered then he tells you he wants 10% of your weekly pay check. He starts to get rather uppity and demands you “voluntarily” give him 10% or else. Not wanting to make a scene or find out what he planned if you did not comply. Was that a moral act? Your answer?
The next week same guy shows up with his buddy at his side - he wants the same 10% - he’s an honest criminal and says I need the same 10%, I’ll split that with my friend here. Of course the guy submits and hands over 10% of his pay check. Is that moral? Your answer?
The following week this guy and 10 of his friends show up, he wants the same 10% ( at least he’s not asking for more ) and of course 10% was given up. The worker was feeling fortunate at this point as the amount stayed the same even though the number up people had increased. Was that a moral act? Your answer?
How about if 100 show up? Would that make it a moral act?
All of the above we and his other audiences would always say no - theft no matter how many is an immoral act.
So now we have this organization called government, they want the same 10% Since its government does that make the formally immoral act moral? Your answer? This is where silence fell upon the audiences - the quandary was all to evident. If its a criminal immoral act for 1 or 100 is that act now moral since its government?
The number of people committing an immoral or criminal act does not change the fact it is immoral. Just because we start an organization and call it government and are given the opportunity to “elect” people to run our government does not make immoral acts moral. Just because we change a word and dress it up from theft to taxes does not change the fact it is stolen. Can any of us start an organization hold eections and start demanding money from people?
As far as the line - “taxes are what we pay for a civilized society” - can anyone answer the question what is moral about threatening a violent act to garner compliance with a immoral act?
Next time one thinks the government should help this me, or someone else…. think about what is being advocated. We are advocating for committing violence against another to fund our project or our whatever. We are enlisting others to do the dirty work - steal - that we ourselves would not do. Just because we are not actively engaged in the stealing does not relieve us of 1
Government is no different than any other criminal gang or the mob.
Exceptions are:
Voting for them ( I do vote) just legitimizes government.
We deal daily with them - if you work around 4 hours every day in various taxes direct and indirect - things you buy have the income tax and other government theft included in the costs.
Our fellow citizens recruit them to steal and plunder to fund their projects
Most of us on the other hand go through life and NEVER talk to the mob or member of another criminal gang.
Another book I have posted here and sent to many is from one of my favorite writers and libertarian thinkers, Murray Rothbard.
https://cdn.mises.org/anatomy-of-the-state.pdf
I like books that challenge my way of thinking and I like authors that are direct about the subject. Murray Rothbard is very direct and to the point. He does not mince words. If I want a word salad I’ll listen to some flim flam artist politicians.
My favorite Rothbard book is Anatomy of the State. I have sent the link for the free download of this 60 page long book to those that are freedom lovers and those that are not. The only thing I ask them to do is put out of their mind everything they believe and think about government. Read it with an open mind. Seriously consider his take on government.
Anatomy of the State brings it home as to what government truly is.
That’s all the further I am going to go, click the link below, its a short 60 page to the point read that if it does not change your thoughts on government totally it will make inroads into your internal battle as to what government should be doing and is doing.
https://mises.org/library/book/anatomy-state
If you would rather listen to it while sun bathing, driving or doing daily chores use this link to have it read to you.
https://mises.org/podcasts/anatomy-state
Again this is a free download, it will cost you nothing but the time to read or listen. It will change your idea on what government is.
Comments or messages are welcome.