tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852507338371195476.comments2023-09-13T23:23:11.621-07:00Individualist Movement BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09528191763459543326noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852507338371195476.post-63883682891269713422020-05-27T06:34:48.101-07:002020-05-27T06:34:48.101-07:00Excellent article, perfect prompter for ponder. If...Excellent article, perfect prompter for ponder. If you please, permit placing the produce of my personal ponderings pertaining to the present "praatjie on authenticity(re. life and such and not applicable to japannese cooking or anchormen and the like). Methinks that authenticity is also to have the courage of one's conviction to totally be that which is in accordance to one's currently understanding of one's reality, which is constantly in flux and unique to every individual and/or moment. The degree of one's authenticity can only be known by oneself. It is private and personal and usually brutally honest. Methinks. Thanx<br /><br />Gideon MaritzGideon Maritznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852507338371195476.post-5995667003419472582019-09-17T07:01:18.101-07:002019-09-17T07:01:18.101-07:00Hi Jim
Thanks for your comments.
I agree that the ...Hi Jim<br />Thanks for your comments.<br />I agree that the lazy use of the word "liberal" when one really means "classical liberal" or "libertarian" is a problem. I think a lot of people in the DA confuse the terms, but somehow liberal is less contentious than libertarian. Helen Zille herself often speaks of "liberal" values, but is immediately forced to define what she means by them, and ends up describing a classical liberal paradigm.<br />I have recently been to New Zealand and can confirm that Kiwis are fiercely protective of "their" system, and the benefits it brings. Many tend towards collective, mildly socialist thinking, subordinating the interests of the individual to the collective good. Nevertheless, they do seem to have quite a good balance, with many activities privatised, and well managed.<br />I have had a close look at the various secession movements, and they all subscribe to collective structures, although some do emphasize Swiss-like federal structures. I fear most hanker for a return to the good old days of strict, god-fearing administration where everyone knows their place.Bozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07290278885885284740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852507338371195476.post-44382165676960693442019-09-17T06:47:59.383-07:002019-09-17T06:47:59.383-07:00Posted on behalf of Jim Clayson
Good questions rai...Posted on behalf of Jim Clayson<br />Good questions raised, here. I wonder what percentage of white South Africans know the difference between 'classical liberal' and the more modern 'liberal'.<br /><br />It seems to me a lot of white South Africans are not yet politically or historically literate to the extent they can spot a pattern in Western human societies. Which is to say if you don't guard your language(the meaning of words in general use), through argumentation, engaging your critics etc., your culture succumbs to attack, by those who despise you for your values, through the dismantling or undermining of laws which reflect your values e.g. the equity clause and freedom of association are not exactly compatible, yet they have come to co-exist in the SA constitution and one wonders about the extent to which freedom of association is still upheld in law.<br /><br />Most white South Africans I know are oblivious - as was I, not that long ago - to the fact the word 'liberal' was co-opted around the turn of the last century. What was once an English tradition of 'liberalism' (today known as 'classical liberal' roots) now refers to the ideas of those of a Socialist mindset. English culture in territories/former territories has capitulated at a slower rate accordingly i.e. with the strength of ties to the motherland, it seems, being an indicator of the level of capitulation(I'm thinking about Canada, New Zealand and Australia). SA's white (English-speaking) population, it seems to me, has been - and is being - handed a thoroughly undermined value system as their own... and is giving legs to it, assuming - because it is English/British 'liberalism' - that it refers to their own roots. Never-mind that the classically liberal values have been severely marginalized, in the UK, since the early 1900s, there (Hayek wrote about this and Thatcher later picked it up and was one of the few to dig her heels in).<br /><br />Interesting that you speak of the white population of SA and compare it to NZ's population. New Zealanders don't have the sheer numbers of resentful entitlement-minded brats already within their borders. But I visited NZ about a decade ago. I have SA friends who settled there. And I have to say there is a clear strain of the Socialist mindset that runs through NZ's mainstream narrative. The locals appeared to me to be hyper-sensitive about preserving the quality of life in NZ. But it seemed to me they didn't quite understand where their Western culture came from, and nor did it seem to me they were too interested. I realize there are NZ'ers who understand liberty, historically, so I'm just speaking generally to the dominant narrative, but perhaps there is a cause-and-effect relationship between this child-like level of historical literacy and the hyper-sensitivity I encountered. It's almost as though they feel they *have* to become authoritarian to protect their way of life, in the absence of knowing where a relatively-high standard of living comes from. If anyone thinks a strong work-ethic, per se, is what makes for prosperity, for instance, they may have failed to notice the sign above the entrance to Auschwitz: "arbeit macht vrei". Individual liberty comes with *individual* responsibility, not Collective responsibility. For some rhyme or reason it is tempting to concede that joining a group necessarily entails giving up being an individual. But I don't think it should.<br /><br />Nevertheless, an interesting set of factors to ponder. I sometimes see these private real-estate complexes, in SA, as forming a firm first step in the direction of secession. The only trouble is that the dominant British, Socialist, narrative is being embraced, simultaneously.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-852507338371195476.post-61210013382400295612017-01-13T04:10:20.135-08:002017-01-13T04:10:20.135-08:00Good analysis.
I hope that the USA will turn inwar...Good analysis.<br />I hope that the USA will turn inwards, leave regional problems for those in a region to sort out.Ernst Maraisnoreply@blogger.com