Snipawolf

I'm of the opinion that if all public servants were paid an amount of money equivalent to the average annual income of the US citizen, then the government as a whole would massively improve. Career politicians would likely pursue other careers as their income would be severely cut. If they have a degree in law, economy, etc, it would be better served if it were employed by a private company. This would take the immoral (immoral to an Objectivist, who believes that abuse of an elected position of power for personal gain is essentially being a looter) politicians out of office and out of public service. This would leave moral people who are honestly worried about the welfare of the country as a whole to take office. Even if an immoral politician took office, to directly raise his income, he must raise the income of all US citizens. The politicians and government workers would also be directly influenced by the rise and fall of the economy and the rise and fall of the income itself after taxes are taken out. Naturally, this would dissuade the government from throwing any kind of social/welfare taxes into the income taxing, as well as likely causing them to lax taxing as a whole. The government itself would also use much less of the revenue it gains to support paying off politicians and public servants and this money would be freed up for other uses. I believe that public servants (especially elected ones) make the CHOICE to be responsible for the citizenry of the country that they are employed for. This choice should not be dissuaded by an average (literally) income. This also puts a politician in the position of an average American, provided (s)he is not backed by a wealthy benefactor. By being in the position of an average American, they are living in a condition which affords them a view of how best to improve the country. This is just something I've been pondering lately. I don't think it'd ever come to fruition unless the vast majority of the public supported it so viciously that they threw opponents of it out of office, but hey, we can wish right? Hahaha. I'm curious for others' opinions on this. Edit: And I'm actually not sure if this goes here, but this is the only forum I saw named "Politics." Hahaha. If it should be moved, I'm down with that.

Thanks! Actually, the thought of deletion was in response to "On visiting another forum, I discovered that I just probably deleted a real poster who signed on today. I thought he he was a robot spam program, but I just saw the same fantasy name on the other forum. Sometimes, even with all the barriers in place, a robot program will manage to sign on. In these cases, Kat and I delete them by hand" in the thread "Please note when you sign up." I've basically always been an Objectivist. I always thought that logic should be the defining factor for any choices and should also be used to resolve conflicts. I was also a perfectionist when I cared, but I didn't care about anything. Earlier in my life, I was on the fence about Christianity. If a God exists, how can he be unfathomable? Isn't being able to identify something proof of its existence? If nothing, why can't I perceive Him with any of my senses? Why doesn't He talk to me if He's supposed to guide me, console me, push me on to do great things? How can I be a conduit for Him if I don't know His wants for me? Etcetera. I'm extremely cynical and as far as "faith" goes, I don't and have never had it in anyone or anything except myself, but even then, I was apathetic and nihilistic and thus lacked passion. I didn't feel like God existed, so it seemed to me that I could live my life for something I didn't believe in and be empty, or live my life without Him and die without purpose. I discovered Atlas Shrugged (and it's a pity I can't remember how!) and it changed my life entirely. I like most of the Objectivism I found in Atlas Shrugged. I don't take it to quite the extreme level that some do, but what I find I like, I keep. I'm eager to read more of Rand's works and I'll do so as soon as the summer courses I'm attending are over. The thing that changed me the most is that I now have a focus on myself as an individual and there's no debt, no duty, no responsibility to other people; I own myself and my actions. I CAN BE proud. It's not a sin, it's a virtue. It's a weapon by which to enforce my standards and push myself to greater achievements! I exist to fulfill my goals and wishes, not those of society or a God that doesn't even seem to exist. It's just a rush. Everything about it. Capitalism is apparently the best way to go as far as economics are concerned. One man produces a good that someone wants, the other man buys the good with the money he's earned from his sold ability. The producer gets money and the consumer gets a good; both benefit and the quality of life is raised! Even if only a little bit! So far, I'm not confused or unsure of anything I've encountered. That is likely to change since I'm actively amongst other Objectivists and will be reading more Rand soon, but I'm sure I'll come to conclusions on my own or with the help of others. Long story short, Objectivism has changed my life for the better and I think everybody should at least read Atlas Shrugged or another of Rands' works. It'd either break down their current views or it'd reinforce them.

I figured I'd drop by and say hi so I don't get deleted or anything. I've got a new account on the OO forums and I figured I'd sign up for these. If I can find any other decent sites, I'll likely frequent them as well. I got into Objectivism by reading Atlas Shrugged and it's definitely the lifestyle for me. I don't know why I never thought of the idea of searching for Objectivist forums or websites before..