Comments on: Why Doesn’t Egalitarianism Work Like This? http://www.failuretorefrain.com/naturalaw/?p=256 Economics of the power-under. Hayek meets Hauerwas. Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:04:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jurisnaturalist http://www.failuretorefrain.com/naturalaw/?p=256&cpage=1#comment-122 jurisnaturalist Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:42:07 +0000 http://naturalaw.failuretorefrain.com/2007/11/24/why-doesnt-egalitarianism-work-like-this/#comment-122 I stand corrected. One cannot say that altruism is rational, or that it is rational to enforce altruism, or to expect enforced altruism to have the same results as voluntary altruism. While you are free to attach terms to charitable donations, doing so is a form of patronization. It is a method of control, of exercising power. Christ tells us to give freely, without our left hand knowing what our right hand is doing. The point is to be obediently responsive to the direction of the Holy Spirit and to not attach expectations to our giving. All giving is giving to the Lord, with no expectation of results or of reward. I stand corrected. One cannot say that altruism is rational, or that it is rational to enforce altruism, or to expect enforced altruism to have the same results as voluntary altruism.

While you are free to attach terms to charitable donations, doing so is a form of patronization. It is a method of control, of exercising power. Christ tells us to give freely, without our left hand knowing what our right hand is doing. The point is to be obediently responsive to the direction of the Holy Spirit and to not attach expectations to our giving. All giving is giving to the Lord, with no expectation of results or of reward.

]]> By: Jeffrey Horn http://www.failuretorefrain.com/naturalaw/?p=256&cpage=1#comment-121 Jeffrey Horn Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:38:38 +0000 http://naturalaw.failuretorefrain.com/2007/11/24/why-doesnt-egalitarianism-work-like-this/#comment-121 "From my parents or wife I expect a meaningful Christmas present. If the government or a corporation want to send me one I prefer cash. I don’t want an emotional attachment to my government, and I don’t want to be accountable to the government for how I spend my money." So you don't want them to give you money or gifts? So if a poor person didn't want to be accountable to the government for how they spend their money, then the government can't help them if you claim the government should only give a cash transfer (negative tax). After all, we've discussed before whether or not I'm allowed to attach terms to my charitable donations. And I am, at least in who I give them to. And if I attach further terms, like my scholarships do to me, is the giving any less charitable? I'm inclined to think not. “From my parents or wife I expect a meaningful Christmas present. If the government or a corporation want to send me one I prefer cash.

I don’t want an emotional attachment to my government, and I don’t want to be accountable to the government for how I spend my money.”

So you don’t want them to give you money or gifts? So if a poor person didn’t want to be accountable to the government for how they spend their money, then the government can’t help them if you claim the government should only give a cash transfer (negative tax).

After all, we’ve discussed before whether or not I’m allowed to attach terms to my charitable donations. And I am, at least in who I give them to. And if I attach further terms, like my scholarships do to me, is the giving any less charitable?

I’m inclined to think not.

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